SRINAGAR: The Railway Ministry’s ambitious plan to extend its network to more districts of Kashmir has triggered farmer’s opposition, fearing the loss of their orchards. The proposal, which includes the final location survey of five lines, has sparked outrage among fruit growers, particularly in the Shopian area.
The sanctioned lines encompass significant stretches, including the doubling of the Baramulla-Banihal section (135.5km), Baramulla-Uri (50km), Sopore-Kupwara (33.7km), Awantipora-Shopian (27.6km), and Anantnag-Bijbehara-Pahalgam (77.5km), reporst appearing in the media suggest.
Tensions escalated this week when fruit growers in the Zainapora area of Shopian staged protests as officials commenced surveys, aiming to earmark land for the proposed Awantipora-Shopian line. Scores of people, including women, participated in the demonstrations, with some in tears over the potential loss of their orchards.
Residents whose orchards come under the railway expansion scheme said they will lose the life time inheritance and livelihoods forever.
Shopian, renowned for its high-quality apples, stands as a crucial fruit producer in Kashmir.
Despite assurances of compensation, farmers remain apprehensive, foreseeing the loss of thousands of trees and livelihoods. Shabir Ahmad Kullay, former president of the Shopian Bar Association and a fruit grower, proposed alternative solutions to mitigate the impact on orchards.
