New firing range in Shahgarh-bulge

After using Pokharan range for years, the army plans to develop a new firing range and "probable explosion" site at Shahgarh-bulge in Jaisalmer district, official sources said.

After using Pokharan range for years, the army plans to develop a new firing range and "probable explosion" site at Shahgarh-bulge in Jaisalmer district, official sources said on Sunday.

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The sources said the defence ministry finds the area, which is sparsely populated, suitable for army movement.

The district collector is expediting the land allocation process on the requisition by the army, they said, adding the process of acquiring the land had begun in 2003 but got delayed due to legal wrangling.

"If government files get cleared, the range would spread on 9.65 lakh beegha of land. A survey is also underway to count the human and livestock population, they said.

Commenting on the army's plans, former Congress MLA Goverdhan Kalla said the construction of the range in the Indira Gandhi Canal Project (IGNP) area would affect the colonisation process there.