SRINAGAR: Political parties of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have joined Kashmiri fruit growers who are up in arms against the railway survey in the apple belt of Shopian in Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Indian Railways have sanctioned the final location survey of five lines, including the doubling of the Baramulla-Banihal section (135.5 km), Baramulla-Uri (50 km), Sopore-Kupwara (33.7 km), Awantipora-Shopian (27.6 km) and Islamabad-Bijbehara-Pahalgam (77.5 km). However, the decision of the Indian Railway Ministry to expand its network to more districts of Kashmir is facing resistance from farmers, who fear losing their orchards in the process.
The farmers’ revealed that apple orchards have been their only economic activity and they will adversely suffer from the new railway lines.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti urged the government to avoid the chopping of fruit orchards and the “haphazard” laying of railway lines in Kashmir. She said environmental experts should be consulted in such projects and warned of serious consequences if developmental projects were carried out in a manner that affected the interests of people.
“The survey conducted by Indian Railways in the apple belt of Zainapora for railroad development has created panic among residents, who fear for their livelihoods. The survey should not be carried out recklessly as it could impact the livelihood of locals,” said CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami.
“The concerns of apple growers in the apple-rich villages of south Kashmir should be taken into consideration and efforts should be made to minimize any potential losses,” Tarigami added.
The National Conference also stated that the residents of Shopian were against the planned acquisition of their land, mainly apple orchards, for a railway project. The NC said every developmental project should consider people’s concerns.
