SRINAGAR: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has stressed the urgent need to safeguard Kashmir’s agricultural and horticultural land, warning against the rapid loss of fertile land due to urbanisation and construction. Bukhari highlighted that the valley has already suffered significant damage, with farmland and orchards being replaced by houses and commercial structures, leading to long-term consequences.
In a statement, Bukhari called on the government to engage experts and stakeholders to assess the potential impact of large-scale development projects, such as the proposed Pahalgam rail project, the NIT campus in Newa Pulwama, and satellite colonies along the Ring Road. He warned that these initiatives could result in the permanent loss of fertile farmland, leaving affected communities to face devastating outcomes.
“Agriculture and allied sectors not only provide employment to a large portion of the population but also contribute significantly to Jammu and Kashmir’s GDP. Yet, we continue to lose these vital resources to unplanned urbanisation,” he said. “While nobody should oppose developmental projects, they must not come at the cost of our lush green paddy fields, horticultural land, and forested areas.”
Bukhari urged the government to prioritise environmental and agricultural preservation in its planning processes, ensuring that progress does not lead to irreversible damage to Kashmir’s fertile lands.
