CHANDIGARH: The UT administration has sought the permission of the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF to deforest 11 acre of land in Sector 25 to extend the shooting range to bring it to international standards.
Punjab governor and UT administrator V P Singh Bandore had given the approval to use the land for the shooting range and for related infrastructure in a phased manner.
The ministry would explore all angles to deforest the land, keeping its necessity and feasibility and studying the background behind the move and other related aspects.
The department of the forest of the administration would also be taken in the loop. Sources said the department would play a crucial role in advising the ministry about the UT plans. Around 16 acre of land in Sector 53 and Maloya has been approved against the 11-acre forest land.
Both these areas are located at the border area of the city, adjoining Mohali. Moreover, the Maloya land has been found to be encroached. “In Sector 53, around 10 acre of land has been given and 6 acre in Maloya against the Sector 25-based forest land,” sources said.
Following the orders of Badnore, the administration has prepared all the related sketches and drawings of the initial phase of work of the project to develop trap and skeet facilities. It would now seek the approval of the shooting federation for construction. The extension of the range would come up in the later phases to develop it on the lines of the international shooting ranges.