Question : ARTILLERY PRACTICES ACT

(a) whether the ‘Manoeuvres, Field Firing and Artillery Practices Act 1938” (under provisions of para 2), stipulates that military manoeuvres over any areas specified in the notification shall not ordinarily be more than three months, once in any period of three years;

(b) if so, whether the Government strictly acts upon the Act and shifted its sites meant for manoeuvres, field firing and artillery practices from time to time in various States including Karnataka;

(c) if so, the details thereof, State-wise and site-wise; and

(d) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI A.K. ANTONY)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. Para 2 of Chapter I of the ‘Manoeuvres, Field Firing and Artillery Practices Act 1938’ stipulates the provisions that cover military manoeuvres. However, field firing is a distinctly different training procedure covered under Chapter II of the same Act.

The Army follows the stipulations given in the Act. Military manoeuvres are restricted and their place/site of conduct vary from time to time. However, the field firing/Artillery firing practices are conducted in the notified area during the period specified in the notification and there is no restriction to their duration or periodicity.

(c) & (d): The list of field firing ranges is attached at Annexure.

REFERRED IN THE REPLY GIVEN IN PART (c) & (d) ANNEXURE OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5157 FOR ANSWER ON 5.9.2011

STATE WISE DETAILS OF FIELD FIRING RANGES

S.NO.	NAME OF RANGE	STATE
1	Khodala	Maharashtra
2	Marihal and Extn	Karnataka
3	Ramdurg	Karnataka
4	Chengalpattu	Tami Nadu
5	Veeramalai	Tami Nadu
6	Balwanta	Rajasthan
7	Bharja(Mt Abu)	Rajasthan
8	Kalakot	Rajasthan
9	Khavda (Near Bhuj)	Gujarat
10	Bhuj	Gujarat
11	Baghdad Asmara	Karnataka
12	Kambadur Mandal	Andhra Pradesh
13	Devlali	Maharashtra
14	KK Ranges (Ahmednagar)	Maharashtra
15	Babina	Madhya Pradesh
16	Pokhran	Rajasthan
17	Balwanta (Nasirabad)	Rajasthan
18	Bambori (Sagar)	Madhya Pradesh
19	Karunga	Gujarat
20	Deotamura	Tripura
21	Garur Basur	Assam
22	Nara Tiding	Assam
23	Sikkim B	Sikkim
24	Gamrata	Arunachal Pradesh
25	Teesta ‘B’	West Bengal
26	Leimakong	Manipur
27	Darranga	Assam
28	Chakki Khad	Punjab(99) & HP (97)
29	Sumdo	Himachal Pradesh
30	Hiranagar	J&K
31	Naraingarh	HP(30 August 14) & Haryana (30 June 12)
32	Hoshiarpur	Punjab (17) & HP (12)
33	Nandani	J&K
34	Birgugiana	Punjab
35	Tanda (Yol)	Himachal Pradesh
36	Dauki	Uttar Pradesh
37	Rewa	Madhya Pradesh
38	Farah	Uttar Pradesh
39	Choral	Madhya Pradesh
40	Extn ABC of No. 9 Mhow	Madhya Pradesh
41	Ramganga	Uttar Pradesh
42	Thalkedhar	Uttaranchal
43	Manjha	Uttar Pradesh
44	Asan	Uttaranchal & Uttar Pradesh
45	Horap	Bihar
46	Netrahat	Jharkhand
47	Deo Dumri	Bihar
48	Maner	Bihar
49	Chhotajam	Madhya Pradesh
50	Sirmutra	Rajasthan
51	Gopalpur	Orissa
52	Raipur (Dehradun)	Uttaranchal
53	Hema (Mhow)	Madhya Pradesh
54	Beirchha	Madhya Pradesh
55	Kharbuthang	Jammu & Kashmir (J&K)
56	Tosha Maidan	J&K
57	Kulum	J&K
58	Tartar	J&K
59	Mahe	J&K
60	Garhi	J&K
61	Kalith	J&K
62	Jhallas	J&K
63	Rajouri	J&K
64	Chorkhud	J&K
65	Mahajan	Rajasthan
66	Kamrota	Rajasthan