Satellite Townships around Ring Road: Aggrieved farmers, activists meet CM’s Political Advisor Mudassar Shahmiri

Srinagar: As the government plans to establish new satellite townships along the Srinagar Ring Road project between Pampore and Narbal, a group of aggrieved farmers and activists met with the Chief Minister’s Political Advisor, Mudassar Shahmiri, on Monday. Shahmiri, who also oversees the Chief Minister’s grievance redressal and outreach office, Raabta, listened to the delegation’s concerns.

Led by Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Ghulam Ahmad Paul, Ali Mohammad Wani, Muzaffar Hussain, and others, the delegation members told Ziraat Times that they highlighted the adverse impacts of further land acquisition around the under-construction Ring Road. They expressed fears that the move would not only devastate farming families and their livelihoods but also cause severe harm to the environment and local ecology.

“Our agricultural land was acquired by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) several years ago for the construction of the Srinagar Semi-Ring Road Project from Pampore (Galandar) to Narbal. The compensation we received was inadequate, and many of us are still struggling to recover from that loss. Now, with the issuance of new notifications by the Divisional Commissioner’s office in 2022 and the latest one by the J&K Housing Board, more of our land is at risk for setting up satellite colonies and townships, particularly in Pampore, Chadoora, and Budgam tehsils. This will leave us landless,” the delegation stated in a memorandum submitted through Raabta.

The memorandum further noted:
“Kashmir Valley has the lowest agricultural landholding in India, averaging less than four kanals. The loss of land for the Ring Road project has already disrupted our lives, and the encroachment of rivers, streams, and karewas by construction activities has compounded the environmental damage. Taking away the remaining land for these proposed satellite townships is unacceptable.”

The farmers urged the government to immediately revoke the notifications issued by the Divisional Commissioner’s office in 2022 and the latest order from the J&K Housing Board (Order No: HB/CLA/130-38 dated 09.10.2024).