Meer Irfan
It was the month of December last year. Hundreds of farmers gathered clutching placards and raising slogans against the government’s move to acquire large tracts of agricultural land for the construction of “satellite” townships.
Standing in the middle of his three-kanal saffron field was sixty-three-year-old Bashir Ahmad Dar from Chandhara. His family, like many in Pampore, has cultivated saffron for generations. Dar has already lost a portion of his land to the construction of the Semi Ring Road in 2022, and now, he fears the government will take whatever remains.
“This land fed us, our parents, and our children. Now they want to turn it into concrete colonies,” Dar said, his voice shaking. “This is not about ecology or aesthetics anymore; this is about our livelihood now.”
The farmers’ protest came in the backdrop of the Jammu Kashmir government’s announcement to build large-scale satellite townships across multiple districts.
According to official data from the Housing and Urban Development Department, the government has identified approximately 1,298.28 kanals (65.66 hectares) of land across Pulwama, Bandipora, Jammu, Kathua, Srinagar, Ganderbal, and Poonch for housing projects. In addition, the Srinagar Development Authority has identified 3,000 kanals of state land along the National Highway Bypass in Bemina for future housing development.
The government has justified the move, stating that the townships aim to “reduce urban congestion” and create vertical housing zones. However, the plan has been met with fierce resistance from farmers and activists, who see it as a systematic erosion of agricultural land.
The proposed housing colonies, according to official documents, include a mass housing colony in Padgampura, Pulwama, over 30 kanals (1.52 hectares) of land; a large housing colony in Watapora, Bandipora, spread over 200 kanals (10.11 hectares); and in Chatterhama, Srinagar, a major project covering 353.35 kanals (17.88 hectares). In Bakoora, Ganderbal, 214 kanal (10.82 hectares) have been identified for another township.
In Jammu, 248.65 kanals (12.58 hectares) have been earmarked in Chak Bhalwal for a mass housing colony, while 85 kanals (4.30 hectares) will be acquired in Bhalwal for flatted accommodations. In Kathua’s Changran area, 81.48 kanals (4.12 hectares) will be developed for plotted and flatted accommodations, while in Poonch, a smaller housing project is planned on 16.80 kanals (0.84 hectares) at Kanuvian.
For farmers like Dar, the weight of the government’s decision is unbearable. His family had already surrendered land during the Ring Road project, leaving them with just enough space to sustain their livelihoods. Now, as the government’s land demarcation officers visit again, Dar fears the total annihilation of his farmland.
“We already lost our land once. Now they want whatever remains. If this happens, our children will have no inheritance. What kind of future are they building for us?” Dar asked, his voice tightening.
The announcement has also triggered environmental concerns among activists, who believe that converting vast tracts of karewa land — known for saffron, almonds, and apples — into concrete townships will collapse Kashmir’s fragile agricultural economy. “Once you pave these karewas, groundwater will deplete, streams will dry up, and agriculture will collapse. This is not mere urbanization; this is slow agricultural destruction,” Bhat said. “This project, if executed, will push Kashmiri farmers into generational poverty.”
Farmers like Ali Mohammad Wani from Pampore echoed similar fears. His family once owned eight kanals of land, of which four were taken for the Ring Road project. Now, government officials have marked another portion of his remaining land for township development. “The Ring Road broke our backs. Now they are coming again, and we have no say in it,” Wani said. “First, they devalued our land. Then they took it. Now they’re coming for the rest.”
According to Wani, the government’s compensation policy has been exploitative. Under the Jammu Kashmir Land Pooling Policy 2024, the government offers landowners either monetary compensation or serviced plots in the developed townships. However, the monetary compensation remains drastically low.
“They paid us 45 lakh per kanal, while the market value was over one crore. Now, they want to offer even less. What do they expect us to do? Beg?” Wani said.
The policy also allows private developers to purchase pooled land from the government, raising concerns that the townships may not prioritize local housing but instead serve private commercial interests. This has further fueled political opposition.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticized the project, calling it an attempt to dilute Kashmir’s demographic structure. PDP spokesperson Mehboob Beg asked the government to clarify whether the houses being built will accommodate local Kashmiris or outside settlers. However, for farmers like Dar, the concern is not about who will occupy the homes but rather what will happen to their farmlands and economic survival.
“We don’t talk about who will live here. We talk about what we will eat tomorrow,” Dar said. “I don’t care if it’s a Kashmiri or an outsider. My fight is not with people; my fight is for our future.”
In November, delegations of farmers from Pampore, Chadoora, and Budgam met the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, seeking an immediate halt to the acquisition process or fair compensation based on market value. However, the Commissioner merely assured them of a “review” without offering any concrete solution.
In the meantime, land demarcation surveys have already begun in Pampore, fueling further anxiety. Construction poles have been marked on saffron fields, signaling an imminent takeover. “I saw them digging those poles in my field yesterday. It’s like watching my entire life being buried alive,” Dar said, his eyes fixed on the fading saffron blooms.
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