Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the environmental consequences of several developmental projects in Kashmir, urging that progress should not come at the expense of natural resources and agricultural land.
Addressing a press conference, Mufti highlighted three specific projects — the Rajouri-Baramulla highway, the ring road from Galander to Ganderbal, and the expansion of the railway line — as major threats to Kashmir’s fragile ecosystem.
“Our land, forests, and resources are in danger. Lakhs of kanals of agricultural land and countless trees in our forests are being affected by these projects,” Mufti said, adding that agricultural land in most districts of the Kashmir valley is under threat.
She raised apprehensions that this unplanned development could lead to disasters similar to those witnessed in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Joshimath.
“It creates a doubt that their (government’s) hearts have not been satisfied by the destruction of J-K that they have caused and so they are now after our lands,” she alleged.
The former chief minister also expressed alarm over the establishment of satellite townships in the valley. She called on the government to disclose the intended beneficiaries of these projects.
“Thirty townships are being built, requiring 1.29 lakh kanal of agricultural land. We want to know who will be settled there and what the impact of these projects will be on our environment,” she said.
Mufti clarified that while she is not against development, it should not come at the cost of Kashmir’s environment, scenic beauty, and fertile agricultural land. She appealed to the government to intervene in these projects to mitigate their environmental consequences.
“We request the chief minister (Omar Abdullah). We will not talk about Article 370 and other big issues, even though they have 50 MLAs. But this is an issue under the housing and urban development department, which is directly under him. There should be no adverse impact on the environment,” she said.
Mufti urged the government to prioritize sustainable development and ensure that Kashmir’s ecological balance is not compromised for short-term gains.