Anantnag, Dec 04: The proposed railway line through Bijbehara has sparked concerns among locals, who feel insecure about losing their fertile agricultural and orchard lands, said Iltija Mufti, Media Advisor to former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
Speaking to reporters here, Iltija called the decision to construct the railway line through fertile areas “very wrong”. She said the project, which is set to pass through Pulwama, Awantipora and Bijbehara, directly threatens the livelihoods of the people.
“This is an agricultural tract of land, highly fertile, with people’s orchards. We have seen protests in Bijbehara because this directly attacks their livelihood. If the railway must be constructed, it can be routed through non-agricultural lands. On one hand, you talk about development, but on the other, you are jeopardising people’s lives,” she said.
The PDP leader criticised the administration for its “disregard” for Kashmir’s fragile ecology and lack of urban planning. “There is no planning behind projects like satellite towns or railway lines. You are destroying fertile lands and attacking the identity and livelihood of the people here. The administration must reconsider and ensure the railway does not cut through Bijbehara’s agricultural land,” she added.
Replying to a question about unemployment in the region, Mufti said the proposed railway line could exacerbate the problem. “Unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir is already at 38%. While there is no popular elected government, employees are being terminated arbitrarily. This is a very serious issue,” she said.
Iltija pointed out recent cases where public employees were dismissed on what she described as “flimsy grounds”, such as distant familial ties to militancy or decade-old social media posts. “In a region like Jammu and Kashmir, where the private sector is almost nonexistent, the public sector is the only dominant employer. Terminating employees based on unfounded reasons is unjustifiable,” she said.
She urged the administration to address these issues and ensure people’s livelihoods and ecological balance are prioritised in decision-making.
