Junaid Abdullah
Known for its serenity, snowy mountains, and lush valleys of shepherds, Pahalgam was once home to fertile agricultural land that produced high-quality crops, vegetables, maize, paddy, walnuts, and apples.
Pahalgam played a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and was also a vital source of food production. However, due to rapid urbanisation, the landscape is now being replaced by concrete buildings, threatening the ecology.
As construction accelerates, environmentalists and local farmers warn of long-term consequences, including pollution, ecological destruction, and threats to food security and wildlife.
Over the past two years, farmland in the Pahalgam region has been shrinking as local and real estate developers purchase agricultural land and use it for non-agricultural purposes, including building hotels, commercial complexes, shops, and restaurants.
Nallah Overah, which flows from Overah to the Lidder River in world-famous Pahalgam, has also been narrowed.
This rapid transformation of farmland into commercial spaces has left many local farmers distressed. Among the farmers concerned about these land losses is Fayaz Ahmed, a farmer whose family has cultivated the land for generations.
“This was our ancestors’ land, and we have earned our livelihood from it for generations. We used to grow crops here, but now all I see is bulldozers,” he said, speaking to The Kashmiriyat.
The Pahalgam-based farmer feels that the infrastructural projects will not only take away their means of survival but also pose a severe threat to the environment. “This conversation will disrupt the ecological balance and cause irreversible damage. Soon, we will have nothing left,” added Fayaz.
Environmental and Economic Consequences
Experts warn that the loss of farmland will have dire environmental consequences. Agriculture, which serves as the backbone of the region’s economy, also plays a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide, maintaining soil fertility, and preventing urban heat islands.
According to the Jammu Kashmir government’s Economic Survey 2022-23, the region’s net sown area has reduced from around 1.62 lakh hectares in 2012 to nearly 1.39 lakh hectares in 2022- a decline of over 14 percent in just a decade.
Official data indicates that agricultural land is shrinking at an average rate of 1,375 hectares annually. Between 2015 and 2021 alone, over 8,200 hectares of farmland were converted for non-agricultural purposes.
“Replacing farmland with buildings increases air pollution. It contaminates water sources and reduces green cover while also disrupting the local ecosystem. It also leads to higher temperatures and worsens air quality,” explains Faiz Bakshi, an environmental expert.
This loss poses a direct threat to Kashmir’s food security, as the region already imports nearly 80 percent of its food grains.
“Without farmland, food shortages will increase, and livelihoods dependent on agriculture will decline. This will lead to greater reliance on imported food, ultimately raising costs for consumers,” Bakshi said.
He further emphasized the need for immediate action. “The government must take strict measures to address these growing environmental concerns. Enforcing laws to protect farmland and promoting vertical housing instead of horizontal expansion are crucial steps. If we fail to act now, the future generations will face severe food shortages and environmental degradation.”
Environmental activists and locals are calling for stricter regulations on land conversion to safeguard the region’s ecological balance.
Lack of Official Oversight
In response to inquiries regarding construction activities in the ecologically sensitive Pahalgam region, officials from the Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) admitted to a lack of official records on the matter.
When contacted, a PDA Inspector in Pahalgam stated, “I am newly appointed to the department and do not have any official records of how many constructions have been built in the past five years.”
He directed the query to another PDA official, Ghulam Nabi Khan.
Upon reaching out to Khan, he responded, “I am currently unwell and do not have any records regarding the number of constructions permitted, illegal constructions demolished, or measures taken to protect Pahalgam’s fragile environment.”
He then provided the contact details of another official, suggesting they might have the required data.
However, when the third PDA official was contacted, he too denied having any records or information about the constructions taking place in the area.
The lack of official documentation raises serious concerns about the monitoring and regulation of construction activities in Pahalgam, a region known for its environmental significance.
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