CRPF seeks land for camps in 29 J&K locations: Report

Srinagar September 30: : The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has sought land in Jammu and Kashmir to establishment permanent camps for its battalions, stating that it is not expecting any reduction in deployment of its troops due to constant Pakistani “shenanigans” in the region, The Print has reported.

According to the report, a meeting for the identification and transfer of land to establish Battalion Camping Sites or BCSs in both divisions of the union territory was held at the Ministry of Home Affairs last week, and was attended by senior ministry officials as well as those from the CRPF, the J&K Police and the administration of the union territory.

“Sources at the Centre and in the J&K government said directions have been issued for such requests to be expeditiously disposed of,” the report said.

“The J&K government will expeditiously dispose of requisitions made by the CRPF after it places indent (seeks land) according to its requirements. These requisitions are considered important and are to be dealt with in a time-bound manner,” a senior J&K government functionary told ThePrint, adding that several departments of the UT administration are involved in the process.

The meeting was held after the CRPF, in a communication to Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on 17 August, stated that despite the magnanimity and support of Ministry of Home Affairs to upgrade infrastructure, a majority of CRPF camps are not designed to house battalion headquarters, the report said.

The Print reported that the communication, sent by CRPF director general A.P. Maheshwari, stated: “Given our huge deployment in J&K since a very long time, which due to Pakistan’s shenanigans is not likely to reduce dramatically, in the foreseeable future, a strong case is made out for CRPF to have permanent BCS (Battalion Camping Sites), in key locations.”

The CRPF has provided a list of nine locations in the Jammu region and 20 in Kashmir where the proposed BCSs are to be established. The locations in Jammu include in Ramban district, where the CRPF has sought 41.77 acres (334 kanal) of land. Its requests for Kathua, Jammu, Udhampur, Doda, Reasi and Rajouri are unspecified.

“In Kashmir, the CRPF has identified 20 locations in Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Baramulla, Kupwara, Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian. It wants around 8 acres in Srinagar’s Zakura area, around 5 acres in Ganderbal, 5 acres in Pulwama’s Kakpora area and around 7 acres in Qazigund. Eight of the 20 locations in Kashmir are in southern part of the Valley, while the rest are in central and north Kashmir,” the Print report said.

 

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