Jammu: Voicing security concerns, the Army Monday said it was not possible to vacate and handover the borderland along the LOC in strategic Pallanwala sector to farmers for cultivation.
During a visit to border sub-sector of Gigrial in Pallwanwala, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand asked Major General GOC 10 Infantry Div K Majumdar to vacate the land so that farmers were able to cultivate it.
The Army informed Chand that as Gigrial and other adjoining villages are located at the zero line, it is not possible to handover the land to the villagers due to security
reasons.
It was apprised that the land other than that on the zero line would be demined and handover to people. For land on acute border line, which is a high security zone area, compensation or rent would be given to farmers, an official release said here today.
Chand later convened a public meeting and informed that Army had already started demining work of 13 mine field.
Commanding officer 19 Sikh Regiment Col Harpreet told Chand that in various areas de-mining was not possible due to security reasons. He assured that Army will allow the
villagers of Gigrial and other villages to go for cultivation beyond these mine fields by providing alternate route.
Chand said that the Army will be conducting a recruitment drive for border area youths tomorrow and appealed to the villagers to participants in large numbers.
PTI
