The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the government to address ambiguities surrounding the construction of the Galander-Pampore-Narbal ring road and associated satellite townships.
PDP Chief Spokesman Mehboob Beg expressed concerns over the project’s impact on agricultural and horticultural land, questioning the purpose and intended beneficiaries of the satellite townships.
“Who are these townships for, and have affected landowners been notified?” he asked during a press conference.
Beg highlighted a 2014 Jammu Kashmir Housing Board order that detailed plans for satellite townships on either side of the ring road, imposing a 500-meter construction prohibition, resulting in a 1-kilometer no-build zone. “It is our right to know what is happening,” he said, calling for transparency and higher compensation for those impacted.
He also voiced apprehensions about similar projects across the region, warning of potential widespread landlessness in a territory already grappling with land scarcity.
The PDP has urged the elected administration to provide clear and publicized details about the projects, ensuring that all affected stakeholders are informed and compensated adequately.