Bar, Hurriyat (M) oppose proposed Bajpathri firing range

Opposition to the proposed firing range at Bajpathri, located near the Yousmarg health resort in central Kashmir, is growing.
The Kashmir High Court Bar Association and the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference have raised environment concerns on the issue. Condemning the state government for giving its nod to set up an alternative firing range in the forest area of Budgam district, they have made it clear that they will oppose the proposed move.
After vacating the Tosamaidan firing range in Budgam district last year, the state government and Army have been looking for alternative sites to carry out training for Army men.
On Wednesday, the Army confirmed that the Bajpathri forest area close to the Yousmarg hill resort in central Kashmir’s Budgam district had been identified as an alternative site.
Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a function on Wednesday, Lt General Satish Dua, GOC of 15 Corps, hinted that the Army would “definitely reconsider” its decision if the move created “more hardships than advantages”. “We were looking for alternatives,”he said.