In picture: HD Apple Orchard of Ghulam Nabi Bhat Batpora Wathoora, dated 28 April, 2024.
Srinagar: Farmers, commuters, and residents living around the under-construction Srinagar Ring Road have appealed to the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds charge of the Public Works (PWD) and Roads & Buildings (R&B) Departments, to take immediate action against NKC Projects Pvt. Ltd. The construction company, they allege, has failed to provide a proper drainage system, particularly near the underpasses and bridges, causing serious hardships to the local population.
A delegation of locals from Kuzwera, Wathoora, and Batpora in Budgam district stated that the ongoing road construction has led to severe dust pollution from Pampore to Narbal during dry days, while rainfall results in waterlogging that impacts agricultural land and orchards. According to them, the worst-affected areas include the villages of Kuzwera, Bugam, Wathoora, Batpora, Lalgam, and Gudsathoo.
“The situation has become unbearable. When it rains, our orchards get waterlogged, and in dry weather, thick dust clouds hang over our villages,” said a resident of Wathoora. “The construction company has choked the natural drainage system, and no effort is being made to restore it.”
The Srinagar Ring Road project, which involves massive earth filling using clay excavated from the Karewas, has raised significant concerns among environmental activists and farmers alike. They claim that the dust emitted from the clay has damaged apple and plum orchards across several villages, including Wathoora, Batpora, Gudsathoo, and Panzan.
Noted environmental lawyer, Advocate Badrul Duja, said that repeated complaints have been ignored by the local administration, forcing some farmers to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT). “The NGT directed the J&K Pollution Control Committee to submit a report, and these reports clearly confirm high air pollution levels around Wathoora due to dust emissions,” he said. “Additionally, breaches in irrigation channels caused massive waterlogging last April, damaging crops and orchards.”
Farmers are now demanding action against NKC Projects Pvt. Ltd. for what they describe as “reckless construction practices” that are damaging livelihoods and the environment. They accuse the company of engaging in illegal riverbed mining as well.
“My apple orchard was submerged in water for two months,” said Ghulam Nabi Bhat, an aggrieved farmer from Wathoora. “Despite repeated complaints to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), there has been no relief. The orchard is nearly destroyed, and I have lost my entire investment. The underpass near Wathoora Batpora gets waterlogged whenever it rains, and in dry weather, we are left choking on dust that harms both our crops and our health.”
The villagers have now pinned their hopes on the Deputy Chief Minister, urging him to intervene and hold NKC Projects Pvt. Ltd. accountable. They insist that unless immediate action is taken, the livelihoods of hundreds of farmers and the health of local residents will continue to suffer.
