Advocate Rasikh Rasool, the petitioner in a National Green Tribunal (NGT) case, has termed the under-construction Handwara-Bangus road project via Rajwar a “big scam” and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.
He also called for the blacklisting of the involved construction company for alleged criminal offenses.
In a press statement on Friday, Rasool highlighted significant irregularities in the road project, which spans the Handwara-Bangus (via Rajwar Forests) route.
The compliance reports from various authorities in response to his petition revealed discrepancies substantial enough to classify the project as a scam under the law. “Forest clearance for the first phase was proposed in blatant violation of rules,” Rasool stated.
“The road was already accessible via the Handwara-Wadder Bala-Reshnari Bangus route through the Rajwar locality. However, forest authorities, in collusion with the R&B Public Works Department, misinformed top officials, falsely claiming there was no alternative route. This resulted in the clearance being granted in clear contravention of the Conservation of Forest Act and other legal provisions, leading to ecological damage and the loss of livelihoods for the local people of Rajwar.”
Rasool further noted that since 2018, the reserved forest area in Rajwar, an ecologically sensitive zone, has been subjected to unauthorized exploitation even before receiving technical clearance from the Forest Department.
An FIR was registered at the Handwara Police Station regarding these activities, and two formal cases have been lodged against the construction company and the user agency. Despite this, no action has been taken against the contractor or the construction company.
Rasool alleged that close associates and relatives of various political figures have been working as subcontractors, misappropriating taxpayers’ money under the guise of the Central Road Fund. This, he claims, further indicates the project’s involvement in a significant scam, necessitating a CBI investigation.
The petitioner revealed that over 25,000 trees and medicinal plants were cut or uprooted, though only 1,023 were recorded by the Forest Department and the user agency, in collaboration with Kashmir-based JK Construction, between 2017 and 2019.
Rasool affirmed his commitment to continue his legal fight to expose the alleged corruption surrounding the Handwara-Bangus road project via Rajwar Forests. He urged the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu Kashmir to immediately halt further construction on the project, citing legal violations, financial wastage, and potential environmental disaster.
Questioning the user agency R&B’s assertion that the project did not require environmental clearance, Rasool emphasized, “The road traverses 14 hectares of reserved forest and ecologically sensitive areas, and thus always required prior environmental clearance.” He expressed disbelief that the agency commenced work on the second phase of the project without the necessary approvals.
Reiterating his call for a CBI investigation, Rasool stated that while he is hopeful the NGT will deliver justice, a thorough probe by the CBI is essential to uncover the full extent of the alleged scam disguised as a road project.