Manasbal: A training area abandoned by the Indian Navy 33 years ago is coming back to life at the Manasbal lake in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district. It was closed in 1989 due to terrorism.
Officials said that the security situation in the region has improved over the decades.
The facility in central Kashmir has been one of the most preferred training destinations for the National Cadet Corps (NCC) until the security situation deteriorated. The Navy moved the training area to Mansar Lake in Jammu.
The Manasbal Development Authority has built adequate infrastructure and suitable camping on the lakefront. Two naval training boats have been brought down from Mansar. The Cadets will be trained in boat pulling, sailing, signalling, and ship modelling.
Mansar lake has become an inconvenient location now due to frequent closures of highways. Officials described it as a demotivating factor for cadets as opposed to the beautiful location of Manasbal.
Group Commander NCC Group Srinagar Brigadier K S Kalsi described it as a momentous occasion and a red-letter day for the NCC in the Kashmir Valley. He told reporters: "It is after a gap of 33 years that NCC training activities of the naval wing are restarting in this beautiful location of Manasbal lake. 100 NCC cadets including girls from various colleges of Jammu and Kashmir are participating in the camp."
He further said that the NCC trains them to join the armed forces as well and it is a major organ of nation-building. "It aims to train the youth of the country to inculcate discipline among them and make them responsible citizens."
The first camp at Manasbal will run till September 26 with 100 NCC cadets from Jammu and Kashmir. It is preparing them for the national-level NCC camp at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh starting on October 2.