SHIMLA (PTI): Modern military stations and CSD canteens would be soon opened in Una and Bilaspur districts of Himachal, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil has said.

Presiding over a meeting of state Sainik Welfare Department here to review the progress of identification of lands for the purpose, Shandil said that 1,100 acres of land had been identified at Varno, Bharshali and the land adjacent to these areas in Una while the process to identify land at Bassi in Bilaspur district was in progress.

The Army had demanded 2,800 acres of land for setting up modern military stations and CSD canteens in both districts and the government had taken steps to meet these requirement, he said.

Directing Deputy Commissioner, Una, to transfer 1,100 acre identified land to the Army for taking up the construction at the earliest, he said with the coming up of military stations and CSD canteens in two districts, the security of the proposed rail line through these districts would also be ensured, besides ex-servicemen and their dependents would also get essential items at reasonable rates.

Shandil said Sainik Welfare Department was providing daily needs items at subsidised to serving soldiers and their dependents besides ex-servicemen through 27 CSD canteens, seven extension counters and 55 mobile CSD canteens.