Anantnag: Farmers in Anantnag district of south Kashmir have urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to reconsider plans for a proposed railway line connecting the district headquarters to Pahalgam, the base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra.
The farmers expressed concerns over the environmental and economic impact of the project.
“Hundreds of acres of fertile agricultural land will be destroyed if the railway is constructed. This land sustains thousands of families,” PTI quoter Ghulam Nabi, a local farmer, as saying.
He warned that the project could lead to food shortages and widespread unemployment. “The railway line, which passes through orchards and paddy fields, will devastate the agrarian economy wherever it goes,” he added.
National Conference leader and local MLA Bashir Ahmad Veeri met with the affected farmers and pledged to relay their concerns to the authorities.
“The purpose of this railway line is unclear. Are they trying to dispossess farmers or further damage our economy? We lack industries in Pahalgam and nearby areas. Losing this fertile land is unacceptable, and we will resist this move,” Veeri said as per PTI.
Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari also criticized the project, stating that the proposed 77.5 km Anantnag-Bijbehara-Pahalgam rail route has sparked protests among local residents.
“Most of the affected landowners are small farmers whose livelihoods depend on their orchards and fields. Experts have also raised concerns about the environmental consequences of laying tracks through fertile farmland and forested regions,” Bukhari said in a post on X.
Bukhari further emphasized the need for dialogue with stakeholders before moving forward.
“There has been no public demand for this railway line. Authorities must consult with all parties involved before making any decision. Imposing such a project without consensus would be unjust,” he added.
