EPG raises alarm over proposed Srinagar-Pahalgam road project, citing ecological threats

15 March 2025

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Srinagar: The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has expressed serious concern over the proposed construction of a new road linking Srinagar to Pahalgam via Khrew. According to the EPG, the project poses a significant threat to the fragile ecology and environment of the region.

As per government sources, the proposed alignment of the road would require the cutting down of 845 trees and the acquisition of 108 kanals of forest land. The EPG believes this scale of deforestation and land diversion will cause irreversible damage to the area’s biodiversity and disrupt critical ecosystems.

The government has justified the project on the grounds that it would reduce the travel distance between Srinagar and Pahalgam by 30 kilometers. However, the EPG argues that with two existing roads already connecting the two destinations, there is no pressing necessity for a third route. The group maintains that the environmental costs of this project far outweigh any perceived benefits in terms of travel time or convenience.

“There is no justification for a new road when two functional routes already exist,” the EPG said in a statement. “The destruction of forests and wildlife habitats for the sake of shaving off a few kilometers is not a sound trade-off.”

Concerns have also been raised regarding the possibility of tunneling through mountainous terrain as an alternative to avoid cutting through forests. The EPG cautions that such tunneling projects pose their own risks. Excavating tunnels can weaken mountain rock structures, disrupt vital underground water sources, and jeopardize the ecological balance of the region.

“Kashmir falls in seismic zone 5, which is highly vulnerable to earthquakes,” the EPG noted. “Any tunneling work in this area requires a detailed geotechnical and geological assessment to ensure there is no risk of catastrophic failures.” The organization emphasized the need for a thorough evaluation of fault lines, volcanic activity, and geo-hydraulic conditions before any such project is considered.

The proposed route is also reported to pass through the Notified Wildlife Sanctuary at Tral. Environmentalists warn that the construction will fragment wildlife habitats, disrupt migration corridors, and alter the region’s natural water cycles, threatening both flora and fauna.

“The sanctuary is a crucial ecological zone,” the EPG said. “Any construction activity there will be detrimental to wildlife conservation efforts. Once lost, these habitats cannot be restored.”

While the project has been promoted as a way to boost tourism and create employment, the EPG argues that such goals must be balanced against the need to protect Kashmir’s natural resources. “Our mountains, forests, and rivers are Kashmir’s unique selling proposition,” the statement added. “If we destroy them in the name of development, we risk losing the very essence of what attracts visitors and sustains local livelihoods.”

The EPG has called for an immediate halt to all planning and development work related to the Srinagar-Pahalgam road project until a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is carried out. The group is urging all stakeholders to explore sustainable alternatives that prioritize conservation and protect the region’s invaluable ecosystems.

“We need development models that are sensitive to our environment,” the EPG emphasized. “Short-term economic gains cannot come at the cost of long-term ecological security.”

It is worth noting that the proposed project still requires clearance from the Supreme Court of India. The EPG hopes that the judicial review will take into account the broader environmental and ecological concerns raised by civil society groups and environmental experts.