NC’s Ruhullah, PDP’s Iltija Mufti oppose twin railway projects crossing through orchards in Kashmir

J&K leaders oppose new railway lines cutting through agriculture and horticulture land in south Kashmir, citing ecological and livelihood concerns.

J&K National Conference (JKNC) leader and Member of Parliament (MP) Aga Syed Ruhullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Wednesday (December 4, 2024) opposed two new railway lines that cut through agriculture and horticulture land in south Kashmir. 

MP Mehdi raised the issue in the Parliament and termed it “a project coming up as if a colonial project without any demand from locals”. He informed the Parliament that a survey for the twin railway lines of the Awantipora-Shopian and the Anantnag-Pahalgam axis was impacting 288 hectares of agriculture and horticulture land in south Kashmir. 

He said the survey and demarcation was carried out in violation of sections of the Land Acquisition Act. “Section 4 and Section 11 of the Act underlines the need for a social impact assessment and prior notice. Both these sections were being violated,” Mr. Ruhullah said. 

Stating that the horticulture sector involved 35 lakh locals, which is 23% of total population, the NC parliamentarian said, “It takes decades for these trees to bear fruits and become productive. I spoke to orchardists who said it was not their demand to have a railway line. I want to know on whose demand these railway lines are being laid in south Kashmir and what is the purpose.”

PDP leader Mufti also opposes the railway lines on productive land in Kashmir. She urged the government “to spare the fertile lands”. “Development should not be done at the cost of livelihood. The proposed railway lines are cutting through orchards that generate sustainable income for locals. We are not against development but should not take place at the cost of ecology,” Ms. Mufti said.  

She said the fertile lands were being acquired for the construction and was “a direct attack on the livelihood of people”. “Use non-agricultural land for the purpose. There is a dire need to save the agricultural land of the farmers and the government should reconsider the proposed railway line,” she added.