Shopian Dec 26 (KNS) : As aggrieved farmers from almost one dozen villages in Pulwama and Shopian continue to agitate over proposed railway line between Kakapora in Pulwama and Kunsoo in district Shopian, the members of J&K Climate Action Group- JKCAG led by Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat on Thursday met aggrieved farmers in almost half dozen villages in Pulwama and Shopian districts.

Speaking to media persons Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat said that the proposed project would consume highly productive horticulture land with apple orchards and this would not only impact the livelihood of locals but would impact the environment and biodiversity as well.

“ Almost 7 lakh apple and other fruit and non-fruit bearing trees in the 26 kms area between Kakapora in Pulwama and Kunsoo in Shopian would be cut down as per locals. This will be disastrous as we found fully grown apple trees coming under alignment of this railway line. Railway authorities have already installed cement pillars to demarcate the land and many specified trees like mulberries , walnuts, chinars and willows are coming under alignment of this line. It would also choke dozens of irrigation channels in the area. I request Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take up this issue with the Union Railway Minister so that this project is not taken up. Instead Srinagar Pulwama Shopian road be widened further so as to ease the traffic movement in this area” said Dr Raja Muzaffar

The group visited Babhar in Pulwama and Keegam , Check Niltrisal , Check Nazneenpora , Kunsoo & adjoining villages of Shopian where railway authorities have demarcated the proposed land.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

“Dozens of aggrieved apple farmers met us in these villages who were completely depressed and wanted intervention of Govt especially Chief Minister Omar Abdullah” Dr Raja Muzaffar added

The farmers told a delegation of JKCAG that Kakpora already has a functional railway station, which adequately serves the connectivity needs of the region and distance between Kakapora to Kunsoo Shopian is only 20 kms.

“ Laying a 26 kms rail line by axing 7 lakhs trees is simply suicidal and we will fight this legally. It is unfortunate that elected representatives, especially the Minister of Horticulture and Agriculture, are mum over this burning issue. We want a social impact assessment , Halqa Majlis, Gram Sabah's, to be held in all affected villages. The authorities are violating even the land acquisition laws which are democratic in nature but nobody is asking us what we want ? ” questions Farooq Ahmad Dar an aggrieved farmer of Kunsoo Shopian

Senior members of J&K Climate Action Group- JKCAG Ajaz Sofi, Raja Aamir Khan and Dr Bilal Nabi also spoke to aggrieved farmers and urged authorities to come to the rescue of farmers.(KNS)