SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the elected government to clarify details regarding the construction of a ring road and satellite townships along the Galander-Pampore-Narbal route.
PDP Chief Spokesman Mehboob Beg raised concerns about the project’s impact on agricultural and horticultural land during a press conference. He pointed out that a substantial portion of fertile land would be affected and questioned the purpose of the satellite townships and their intended inhabitants. “We want to know who is supposed to live in these satellite townships and if any notice has been given to those whose land is being used,” he said.
Beg called for transparency and emphasised the need for the government to keep the public informed, especially those whose livelihoods depend on the land in question.
Mehboob Beg highlighted that the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board order, dated October 9 2014, mentioned the development of satellite townships along the ring road in Srinagar. He pointed out two critical points: the completion of the ring road from Galander to Narbal and the inclusion of satellite townships on either side of the road.
“We need to know who they are intended for—whether it is for domiciles or others. The order prohibits construction on either side of the ring road to ensure it is reserved for these townships, with a 500-metre restriction on both sides, equating to a 1-kilometre no-construction zone,” he said.
“It is our right to know what is happening,” he said. The PDP spokesperson also called for increased compensation for those affected by the project and for the government to address the ambiguities surrounding it.
He also said that similar ring road projects are planned for other areas in the region, and expressed concern that this could result in widespread landlessness in a state already dealing with land scarcity.
