In Gurez, proposed firing range has residents worried

Adil Akhzer

Srinagar, July 6

A proposed field firing range in the eco-fragile valley, close to the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir, has sent the people in a tizzy in the famous tourist destination of Gurez. The villagers think the firing range will not only hit the tourism prospects but also play havoc with the ecology of the virgin valley.

The Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department had a few months ago invited suggestions and objections regarding a draft mitigation plan for establishment of a firing range by the Army at Butmalai in Gurez valley along the Line of Control.

The small forest valley has emerged as a new hot spot for tourism in the last few years. Its Dawar village had bagged the best tourism village award from the Union Tourism Ministry in 2023. It is attracting tourists from different parts of the country.

“People are worried that the firing range would impact every sector,” Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, former MLA and National Conference leader from Gurez, said. Gurezi said he met UT’s Chief Secretary and other officials about the matter. “I conveyed the apprehension of people that it will be a disaster for the area…they assured to look into the matter,” he said.

In the mitigation draft plan’s preface part, signed by Roshan Jaggi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, it states that Army has identified an area to establish the field firing range “to meet its training needs as part of strategic preparedness of troops and therefore is an important matter connected with national security.” It, however, said, “Establishing a field firing range in an area supporting good quality natural high-altitude forests with high biodiversity index and existence of human habitations in the vicinity would create negative impacts.”

“….to minimise the impact of potential environmental disruptions, there is a need to have a comprehensive mitigation strategy in place,” it added.

In the executive summary part, the draft plan says the forest department constituted a committee in July 2023 to prepare a mitigation plan in connection with establishment of firing range after the request from the Army was received. Accord of forest clearance with respect to forest area measuring about 45.42 sq kms at Butimali, Gurez, was sought by the Army. “Subsequently…the forest department constituted a committee to prepare a mitigation plan in connection with establishment of firing range,” it said, adding that a subcommittee was also formed into the matter.

The subcommittee, which held four meetings and also visited the proposed site in September last year, in its assessment, identified the possible impact of the proposed firing activity on “land, water, flora, fauna, and also took into account various socio-economic implications during the assessment process.”

“The committee in its final report, identified nine potential impacts and suggested various measures to be adopted to ensure that the impact is minimised,” the report said.

Among the potential effects, the report mentioned “change in land from existential natural forests which serve as grazing land and source of NTFP’s (Non timber forest products), which local communities collect as source of their livelihood.”

In the areas nearby Butmali, locals fear impact on their livelihood. Recently, when the Bandipora Deputy Commissioner and other senior officials visited Gurez, the villagers informed them about their worries.

“Villagers are dependent on cattle grazing…It will impact our livelihood. Everyone is very much worried, Abdul Rahim, a former sarpanch, said. “We told them(officials) we are not supporting this… it is not good for people here,” he said.

BJP leaders too have conveyed the apprehensions of people to the higher offices, local leaders say. Raja Aijaz Khan, a BJP leader in Gurez and District Development Council member from Tulail area in Gurez said he has raised the matter at every possible level.

“This is a forest area and the consequences of having firing range at different places is known to everyone…so I think the government needs to look into and address what people are saying,” said Khan.