Hardline Hurriyat Conference today opposed extension of lease to Army for Tosa Maidan firing range in central Kashmir's Budgam district, saying the area should be developed as a tourist resort for generating employment opportunities for local people.
"While rejecting the proposal to extend the lease to Army over the Tosa Maidan firing range, Hurriyat Conference cautions against such a move as it is unacceptable," a spokesman of the Hurriyat headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani said in a statement.
The lease of Tosa Maidan, which is used as a firing practice range, will expire later this year and the Army has requested for an extension in it.
The spokesman said Hurriyat Conference stands by the demand of the people from affected areas that the Tosa Maidan should be developed as tourist destination which will create many job opportunities for the poor people of the area.
The Hurriyat accused the state government of maintaining a "criminal silence" over the issue.
It said areas like Gulmarg, Pehalgam and Tosa Maidan are models of nature and beauty of Kashmir and due to these areas, Kashmir is known as Switzerland of Asia.
"With the help of state government, the Indian Army has forcibly occupied these landscapes and have created environmental problems," he alleged.
