ARMY CLARIFIES ITS STAND ON THE PERIPHERY ROAD

Jalandhar, September 13, 2016: Refer to the news article that was published in some of the print media on 12 September 16 regarding the villagers seek opening of periphery road. The Army has been proactive on this issue and have already forwarded a proposal to the Punjab Government and DC Jalandhar.

Jalandhar Cantonment is surrounded by eight villages and a large number of colonies which includes the villages of Garha, Subhana and Dhina. Keeping in view the security situation, a major work for construction of a security wall was released for the Cantonment in the year 2013-14 by the Ministry of Defence.

The news article also talked of construction of 3 Km of partial walls in the periphery of Village Subhana. This is an old case of 2010 and the statement that any new walls have been constructed towards Village Subhana is absolutely baseless and unfounded. In addition, all the entry or exit points into the Cantonment which are open to the military are also open to the general public. The periphery road / track which is presently existing in some stretches around the periphery of the Cantonment is being utilised unhindered by all the nearby villages.

This issue was also discussed in the Civil Military Liaison Conference held on 28 Mar 2013 which was followed up by a Joint Committee Meeting of Army authorities and DC Jalandhar on 24 Dec 13. It was decided that the army authorities will be allowed to construct their security wall after providing a periphery road from Atwal Colony to Village Birring and Punjab Government would compensate the Army authorities by acquiring equal value land in lieu of this periphery road.

A firm commitment on this proposal is, however still awaited from Punjab Government. A meeting was also held at Chandigarh between Senior Defence Officers and the Special Principal Secretary to the Honorable Chief Minister of Punjab on 07 Apr 2016 to discuss this important issue. However, the case cannot proceed further till an ‘In Principle Approval’ for exchange of equal value land is given by the Punjab Government.