Pulwama/Shopian, Dec 23: Raising concerns over food security and livelihood loss, several farmers from Pulwama and Shopian districts on Monday staged protests against the proposed new railway line between Kakpora and Shopian, alleging that the project would consume highly productive agricultural and apple orchards and push hundreds of families into economic uncertainty.
Farmers from several villages of Shopian assembled inside their apple orchards, holding a peaceful demonstration and urging authorities to rethink the alignment of the proposed rail link. Holding placards and raising slogans such as “What will we eat?”, the protesters said the land identified for the project constitutes some of the most fertile agricultural and horticultural belts of south Kashmir.
The protesting farmers argued that the proposed railway line would irreversibly damage apple orchards and farmland that form the backbone of the local economy. “These orchards are not just land parcels, they are our only sustainable source of livelihood. If they are taken away, entire families will be left without income,” the farmers said.
Questioning the necessity of the project, the protesters maintained that the area is already well connected by a robust road network and does not warrant an additional railway sub-line. They pointed out that Kakpora already has a functional railway station, which adequately serves the connectivity needs of the region.
“The districts are well covered by roads and rail access already exists through Kakpora. Why should fertile apple belts be sacrificed for a line that is not essential?” asked several protesters, terming the project “unnecessary and poorly planned”.
The farmers demanded that authorities explore alternative alignments that do not pass through productive agricultural zones, or reconsider the project altogether in the larger interest of food security, employment and environmental sustainability.
So far, there has been no official response from the Railways or the district administration on the protest, though the farmers said they would continue their agitation if their concerns were not addressed.
Pulwama and Shopian are among Kashmir’s leading apple-producing districts, with horticulture providing direct and indirect employment to tens of thousands of families. The protesters warned that indiscriminate land acquisition in such areas could have long-term consequences for the region’s agrarian economy.
