Won’t sell land to Army at Pattan, says Dir Sheep Husbandry

SRINAGAR — Days after Army sought to purchase a chunk of land in Pattan Baramulla, authorities at Department of Sheep Husbandry on Saturday said the land is needed for livestock and can’t be given to the security forces.

“Army has shown interest to purchase this land but government needs it for the livestock. It can’t be given to the Army. We will reply to the Army within two days that this land is needed for the livestock,” Director Sheep Husbandry, Kashmir Dr. Abdul Salam Mir said.

On May 26, the Army’s 19 infantry division ordnance unit had written to the Director Sheep Husbandry and expressed its desire to purchase 129 kanals of land in Pattan area belonging to the Sheep Husbandry department.

“Some troops of this unit are temporarily stationed in your land at Kreeri high ground, near Tapperwari village. It is requested to inform whether you wish to sell your above mentioned land to the Indian Army,” reads the letter.

The letter had sought reply from the department by May 30, 2020.

It is perhaps for the first time that the Army has directly written to the department concerned for purchasing land in the Valley.

Prior to the abrogation of Article 370 on August 05 last year, the Defence Estates officer would write to Jammu and Kashmir government for getting lease of the land required by the Army.