The administration of Union Territory Ladakh has proposed to notify 5.69 lakh Kanals of land in Drass area of Kargil district as a field firing range.

In a notification, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the UT administration has invited objections, if any, from general public over the proposal of firing range.

“Objections in this regard, if any, may be communicated to Deputy Commissioner, Kargil within a period of two months from the date of issuance of this notice,” reads the notification issued by Umang Narula, who is advisor to LG Ladakh and administrative secretary, Home of the Union Territory.

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As per the proposal, the administration of UT Ladakh intends to authorize carrying out of the field firing and artillery practice throughout an area measuring 5,69,911 Kanals and 17 Marlas situated at village Matayen Kharu, district Kargil for a period of five years.

The notification has been issued under sub-section (3) of section 9 of the Maneuvers, Field Firing and Artillery Practice Act, 1938.

Under the law, the State/UT administration has to issue notice of intention before notifying an area as a field firing range for its use by forces.

In 2017, the government of erstwhile state of Jammu Kashmir had notified an area 4,80,000 Kanals (60,000 acres) situated at Mandalthang, Shayok in Durbuk sub- division, in Leh district as a field firing range for a period of five years—(KNO)