SRINAGAR: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Jammu and Kashmir government and the Director of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, seeking a detailed response on the proposed construction of a new NIT campus in Newa, Pulwama. The move follows a petition filed by RTI and environmental activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, who has raised concerns over the environmental impact of the project.
Filed through Advocate Saurabh Sharma, the petition calls for intervention to prevent the felling of thousands of fruit and non-fruit-bearing trees across 4,500 kanals (approximately 550 acres) of Karewa land, affecting seven villages in the region. The petitioner has also highlighted the area’s ecological significance, noting that it serves as a habitat for migratory birds such as the European bee-eater, Kashmir flycatcher, and White-capped bunting, as well as wildlife including Himalayan red foxes, porcupines, and leopards.
On April 1, 2025, the NGT’s Principal Bench, comprising Chairperson Justice Prakash Srivastava, Judicial Member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, and Expert Member Dr Satyagopal Korlapati, directed the respondents, including the Chief Secretary of J&K, the Chairman of the J&K Biodiversity Council, the Chief Wildlife Warden, and the Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama, to submit their replies. The tribunal specifically ordered NIT Srinagar to disclose the full construction plan and the number of trees expected to be felled.
The order reads: “Issue notice on OA and IA to the respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit before the Tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing through e-filing. If any respondent directly files the reply without routing it through their advocate, they must remain virtually present to assist the Tribunal. The Applicant is directed to serve the respondents and file an affidavit of service at least one week before the next date of hearing. Respondent No. 5 (Director NIT Srinagar) is directed to disclose the entire plan of construction of the NIT campus and the number of trees proposed to be cut in the process.”
The next hearing has been scheduled for August 1, 2025.
Expressing satisfaction with the NGT’s decision, Dr Bhat stated that the Karewa land in Pulwama, along with the neighbouring areas of Chadoora and Parigam, has already suffered extensive degradation due to clay mining and unregulated brick kiln operations. He warned that the proposed campus would further endanger the region’s biodiversity, as the dense tree cover currently helps mitigate air pollution from brick kilns.
“This is the last remaining stretch of Karewa land with dense tree cover, including almond, apple, and walnut orchards, as well as acacia and willow trees. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had assured that the campus would be relocated, but no formal order has been issued. The government has not even consulted local communities, the Gram Sabha, or the area’s elected representatives. The proposed project violates wildlife protection laws and threatens the region’s ecological balance,” he said.
With the NGT’s intervention, the future of the NIT Srinagar campus in Pulwama remains uncertain, pending further legal scrutiny.
