SRINAGAR: Steadily but surly a crisis is emerging in South Kashmir with Newa (Pulwama) as its epicentre where mass opposition is growing against a possible takeover of 4,834 kanals (approximately 600 acres) of prime horticultural land for the establishment of a new campus for the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar. This vast piece of tableland is considered one of the last remaining fertile areas for growing almonds, a key agricultural product in the region.
Over the decades, residents have invested millions of rupees after lifting hefty bank loans to shift to high-density apple cultivation, which has become their primary source of income. As the government takeover would dispossess them from the land, they believe they would land up into perpetual poverty, with some residents stating they would have no choice but to beg for survival.
NIT, the erstwhile REC Srinagar, is a small-sized engineering college with not more than 3000 students. It operates from a 67-acre (536 kanals) piece of land on the banks of Dal Lake near Hazratbal. At a stone’s throw from the University of Kashmir, it operates from one of the fascinating locations within the city.
“If the government succeeds in snatching the land from the villagers, it will fetch a NIT student more than 1.5 kanal of land each, a luxury that even residents cannot afford for their housing,” a concerned University of Kashmir faculty said. “I do not understand if they are raising 3000 Elon Musk’ who need a landing site each for their space rockets?”
M Tahir, a postdoctoral fellow, argued that the proposed NIT Pulwama campus, at 600 acres, is far larger than many prestigious global institutions, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and University College Dublin. He questioned whether such an extensive area is truly necessary for an engineering college.
Regardless of the NIT requirements and the generosity of the Jammu and Kashmir government, the flip side of the story is more compelling.
Firstly, the land in question, locally called karewa, has been used for generations to cultivate high-value crops like saffron, almonds, and now high-density apples. It is perhaps one of the last pieces of tableland in Kashmir, which still produces Kashmir almonds, a market that has already been taken over by Californian imports.
Secondly, the area is being cultivated by farmers from home 16 villages across four assembly constituencies: Rajpora, Chadoora, Pulwama, and Pampore. The stakeholders include residents of Newa, Urwan, Malwari, Gudoora, Jahama, Narbal and Ugurgund (Pulwama); Nowpora Nowgam (Lonapora), Daffarpora, Zadoora, and Karimabad (Rajpora); Parigam (Pampore), Kultreh, Barigund, Bahrampora and Baghat-i-Kanipora (Chadoora).
With a rich agricultural heritage, the land is also integral to the local economy, with thousands of families relying on almond orchards, high-density apple farming, and other horticultural activities.
Thirdly, the residents strongly dispute the claim that the land is purely state land.
Ghulam Mohammad Wani, a 70-year-old farmer from the region, whose family has been cultivating almond trees for over a century, emphasised the long-standing ties between the locals and the land, which are reflected in official revenue records dating back to 1988. He said most of the new investments in the high-density apple are debt-funded by banks and how can financial institutions accept state land as collateral? He said the government officers camped here to guide the residents about the technology shift in apple cultivation. Most of this is part of the government-subsidised scheme.
Critics of the project argue that the land acquisition, which will displace thousands of farmers, threatens not only the local economy but also the region’s biodiversity. Dr Raja Muzaffar, a prominent activist, condemned the project, highlighting the environmental consequences of destroying valuable karewa land. He pointed out the vital role of apple orchards in mitigating air pollution and sequestering carbon, calling the proposed land conversion a “reckless disregard for the environment.” The area’s apple trees also provide a critical habitat for pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, which are essential for maintaining the ecosystem’s health.
Despite these concerns, the J&K government has moved ahead with the project. On December 24, 2024, the office of Deputy Commissioner Pulwama issued an order to constitute a team of revenue officers to prepare the necessary documents for transferring the land. Official sources insist that the land is state-owned, but locals vehemently argue that they have been cultivating it for over a century, with their rights not being properly considered in the decision-making process. Dr Muzaffar criticised the lack of consultation with residents, pointing out that the Panchayat elections have not been held for over a year, and local bodies have been sidelined in important decisions.
Residents have called on the government to reconsider the acquisition and find alternative land for the project that does not jeopardise their livelihoods or the region’s ecological balance.
The outcome of this dispute will likely have far-reaching implications for the future of land use and local governance in Jammu and Kashmir, where development projects often clash with the needs and rights of local populations.
