Army’s field firing range deemed unsafe amid airport construction in Ayodhya
Ayodhya: The Army’s field firing range in Ayodhya, which falls in the flight path of the under-construction airport, has become “unsafe” for use, according to reports.
A senior Army officer told the New Indian Express that a new airport has come up and the Ayodhya range is in the flight path of aircraft. He stated that it would be unsafe to continue utilising that range. "In such cases, we seek alternative location and carry out firing drills," he added. Furthermore, the source said that the Army requires field firing ranges to carry out trials of heavy weapons such as tanks and Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs) and continue to use the ranges which are available.
When transferring defense land, a standard procedure involves the government agency acquiring the land either providing an equal area of land, equivalent value, or developing infrastructure on a different suitable land parcel. This process is also being applied to the Army land in Ayodhya, according to reports. Additionally, the Army is expected to soon receive a new field firing range in one of the north eastern states, bordering China.
The Hindu reported that the recent decision by the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) to de-notify land used for firing practice has drawn significant criticism following allegations that several high-profile individuals acquired land in the area. The report also noted that 10 additional cantonments have been identified for de-notification: Ajmer, Babina, Clementown, Deolali, Dehradun, Fatehgarh, Nasirabad, Mathura, Ramgarh and Shahjahanpur. The reason to excise civil areas of cantonments is to bring uniformity in municipal laws governing them and adjoining Municipal areas, according to the Defence Ministry, as mentioned by the news outlet.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
