A delegation of farmers and activists met with the Chief Minister’s Political Advisor on Monday to express their concerns regarding the government’s plans to establish satellite townships along the Srinagar Ring Road project, which spans from Pampore to Narbal.
The meeting was held at the Chief Minister’s grievance redressal and outreach office, Raabta.
Led by Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Ghulam Ahmad Paul, Ali Mohammad Wani, Muzaffar Hussain, and others, the delegation highlighted the negative impact of further land acquisition on farming families, their livelihoods, and the environment.
The farmers voiced concerns that they are still grappling with the consequences of the initial land acquisition by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the Srinagar Semi Ring Road project.
Large tracts of agricultural land were taken for the road construction, and many farmers claimed they were inadequately compensated.
The delegation submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Raabta office, expressing outrage over subsequent notifications issued by the Divisional Commissioner’s office in 2022 and a recent order from the Jammu Kashmir Housing Board (No: HB/CLA/130-38 Dated October 9, 2024).
These directives propose the establishment of satellite colonies and townships in Pampore, Chadoora, and Budgam tehsils, further threatening agricultural land and natural resources, including rivers, streams, and karewas.
The memorandum stated, “Our remaining land will be taken away by the Housing Board, leaving us landless. This is unacceptable, especially as Kashmir already has the lowest agricultural landholding in India, with an average of less than four kanals.”
The farmers urged the government to cancel these notifications, stressing the importance of preserving Kashmir’s limited agricultural land for both livelihoods and environmental sustainability.
The Chief Minister’s Political Advisor assured the delegation that their concerns would be forwarded to the relevant authorities for further review.