Jammu, Aug 21: Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, on Friday chaired the Northern Command Land Conference, bringing together senior defence, government and civil administration officials to address issues related to the management, utilisation and administration of defence land across the Northern Command area.

The conference provided an institutional platform for coordinated deliberations involving the armed forces, Central Government agencies, defence-estate authorities, forest officials and the administrations of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Senior representatives from Northern Command, Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army), Indian Air Force, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE), forest authorities and the UT administrations participated in the conference.
The discussions covered a wide range of issues concerning defence land, including its optimum utilisation, management, inter-departmental coordination and resolution of long-pending matters.
Given the strategic importance of the Northern Command area, efficient management of land and associated infrastructure assumes particular significance. The participating agencies deliberated on ways to streamline procedures, improve coordination and reduce delays in matters requiring action from multiple departments.
Several decisions were taken to facilitate faster disposal of outstanding cases and establish more effective mechanisms for resolving land-related issues. The emphasis remained on structured, transparent and time-bound decision-making.
Addressing the conference, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma emphasised the importance of effective land management and close coordination among all stakeholders.
He noted that efficient utilisation of land resources is essential not only from an administrative perspective but also for ensuring the availability of land and infrastructure required for defence preparedness and operational needs.
The Army Commander stressed the need for continuous communication between defence and civil authorities so that procedural issues do not lead to avoidable delays. He also called for greater synergy in matters involving land records, statutory clearances, infrastructure development and other related requirements.
The participation of representatives from the Army, Air Force, BRO, Defence Estates, Forest Department and civil administrations marked an effort to institutionalise stronger coordination among agencies dealing with defence land.
The conference sought to bridge administrative gaps and develop a common approach towards complex land-related matters, while ensuring judicious and legally compliant utilisation of valuable land resources.
The initiative assumes added importance in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, where defence infrastructure and land management are closely linked with operational preparedness and connectivity requirements.
The decisions and recommendations emerging from the conference are expected to provide greater clarity to concerned agencies and accelerate the resolution of pending matters.
The conference reinforced Northern Command's focus on responsive administration, efficient resource utilisation and stronger cooperation between defence establishments and civil authorities in support of operational and infrastructure requirements.