Army fails to keep word, stays put in over 640 buildings, premises

Despite its claims of being committed to the mutually-agreed decisions with the state government regarding vacation of land and property, Army continues to occupy 210 government buildings, 434 private structures and three major industrial units in Jammu and Kashmir.

“As per the details collected from police headquarters and those furnished by divisional commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir, 647 buildings including major industrial units of the state are still under the occupation of army,” reads an official report, a copy of which lies with us.

As per the official document, as many as 278 government buildings, 1302 private buildings, 45 hotels, 5 cinemas and 18 industrial units are in unauthorized possession of army and paramilitary forces in the State.

“Cumulatively, as on date, 1648 premises are under the occupation of security forces of which 647 buildings are under army,” the report by the state government reveals.

The official document also states that out of 20 buildings, which were to be vacated within six months following the 2013 Civil-Military Liaison Conference, 14 continue to be under Army occupation, contrary to the commitment made by it in the previous CMLC meetings.

On November 12, 2013, during the CML Conference chaired by the then chief minister Omar Abdullah, Army had agreed to vacate 20 buildings within the period of six months. Army had agreed that out of 22 buildings under its occupation at different places, 20 buildings would be vacated within six months except two of them at Dagger Villa Gulmarg and a PDD building at Bhaderwah.

The army had cited some infrastructural issues and had sought time to vacate the remaining two buildings. But it had pledged to vacate the remaining 20 buildings within six months which they eventually failed to do.

According to the minutes of the 2013 CMLC, it was agreed by army to vacate the 20 buildings within stipulated time. However, the latest status report on 2013 CMLC states that only six out of 20 buildings have been vacated by army.

Earlier, successive governments had claimed that 1474 buildings, including 179 schools and 34 hotels besides 56 bunkers, have been vacated by forces in the state in view of the improving security situation.

Abdul Rehman Veeri, the then Minister for Horticulture, had informed the Legislative Council that 21337 acres of land is under unauthorized occupation of army and paramilitary forces in the state.

“1,307 private houses, 278 government buildings, 27 hotels, 5 cinema halls, 3 hospitals and 18 industrial units are still under the occupation of security forces in the state and efforts are on to ensure their vacation,” Veeri had said.

However, despite an official committee formed to monitor the implementation of CMLC decisions, the government has failed to recover the public infrastructure and land possessed and supposed to be vacated by army and other security agencies in the state.

The figures put a question mark on army claims that they have been committed to meeting all the mutually agreed decisions arising not only out of Civil Military Liaison Conference 2015 but of all such previous meetings.