Locals move NGT as CRPF eyes 1,300 kanals of land in Srinagar’s Zabarwan hills for new base

Srinagar: Hundreds of kanals of land within a protected conservation reserve in the Zabarwan hills — part of Srinagar’s green belt — are reportedly being taken over to establish a new paramilitary base, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been informed. The tribunal was informed by local residents, The Wire reported.

The move has triggered a controversy in Kashmir, as locals fear displacement and loss of livelihood, while environmental experts warn that altering land use in the designated green zone could devastate the ecologically fragile western Himalayan slopes.

As per the report, residents of Brien, a cluster of villages in the foothills of Zabarwan near the Mughal Gardens and Dal Lake, have approached the NGT to halt the alleged ongoing landscaping and clearing work. The ruling National Conference (NC) has also urged the Home Ministry to review the proposal.

In their petition, the locals claimed that over 1,300 kanals of land in the green zone have been earmarked for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), with more than 50,000 trees likely to be cut down to construct a base for four CRPF battalions — 61, 79, 117, and 132.

According to official documents, accessed by The Wire, on June 24 last year, CRPF officials and the Srinagar district administration identified 1,324 kanals (survey no. 2744) in Brein for a “Battalion Camping Site.” A subsequent letter from CRPF’s 79th Battalion sought revenue records to facilitate the land transfer and road construction.

Lead petitioner Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah, representing 49 families from nearby hamlets, told the tribunal that the site lies within the catchment of Dachigam National Park, a protected conservation reserve where construction is prohibited under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972), National Forest Policy (1988), and the Srinagar Master Plan-2035, the report said.

Dachigam National Park, home to the critically endangered Kashmir Hangul — the only surviving Asiatic red deer subspecies — is already battling habitat loss. Though its population has shown slight recovery, experts say further deforestation could prove catastrophic. The park also serves as a corridor linking Overa Wildlife Sanctuary, sheltering species like the Asiatic black bear, musk deer, and leopard.

Shah, quoted in the report, warned that the proposed camp would cause “irreparable damage” to the ecosystem. Photos shared by residents show red crosses painted on boulders, marking boundaries for the CRPF site.

Another petitioner, Mohammad Ramzan Hafiz, told The Wire that the CRPF’s initial demand for 124 kanals had ballooned to 1,324 kanals. “If this land is handed over, they might later seek thousands more. We are not against security forces, but clearing this forest will destroy the environment,” he said.

Last year, the residents filed a petition in the J&K High Court, claiming violation of their fundamental rights (Articles 14, 21, and 300A) and the absence of any environmental or social impact assessment. The plea was withdrawn after the CRPF told the court it had no immediate plan to acquire the land. But new markings have revived fears of eviction.

NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar told The Wire the deployment could be justified for protecting tourists in Dachigam, “but you don’t need four battalions there. The ministry should review this to balance security and ecology.”

Environmental activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat was quoted as saying that J&K’s forest cover has been steadily shrinking due to infrastructure projects.