Suhail Bhat
Pampore (Pulwama), Nov 19: Despite High Court order on land use, there is massive land conversion of famed saffron fields into residential and commercial establishments posing threat to saffron.
Locals said that the encroachment on the notified area continued despite existence of laws meant to preserve the unique land. They added that despite existing laws like Saffron Act 2007, the State Government has failed to stop the unabated conversion of saffron land. “The conversion of saffron land into residential colonies has been going on for years. Ironically, everything is happening right under the nose of authorities,” said a local, Mudasir Ahmad.
He said if the land conversion continued with the same pace for next two-three years, no land would be available to cultivate saffron. “At Saffron Colony Pampore, the construction never stopped and after the devastating floods of 2014, the construction work doubled. After the floods, people from different areas are buying priced uplands of Pampore for the construction of residential colonies,” the locals said and alleged that the land mafia “in connivance with the authorities is converting the land into residential and commercial establishments”.
Saffron Association president, Abdul Majid, alleged some of the tainted officials who are hand-in-glove with the land mafia are raising huge establishments on the saffron land. “The land mafia charge extra money for getting the permission for the construction of residential and commercial establishments,” he said, adding: “everyone takes his share.”
Director Agriculture, Altaf Aijaz Andrabi when contacted by Excelsior claimed that the land mutations have happened prior to year 2010 and the land cover has not declined. “In 2010, the land under saffron cultivation was 3,715 hectares and there has not been any change in this status so far,” he said. However, an official of Agricultural Department said neither the agriculture nor any other department has made any assessment which can prove their claim.
“No new assessment has happened. No one knows the exact land under saffron cultivation today. Unless the Government takes a call, which will discourage all the land mafia, the unabated conversion of land will not stop,” he said.
Prior to 2007, when Government was yet to introduce its ambitious Saffron Mission, 5100 hectares of land was under Saffron cultivation, which has now reduced to 3,715 hectares owing to unregulated urbanization and Government’s inability to save the saffron land.
As the land cover decreased, saffron production has showed a drastic decline and this year, as per growers, there was 60 percent drop in production. Experts said that the unplanned and unregulated constructions were ruining the crop and if Government would be unable to put a check to the concretization of saffron field, they might lose the crop.
“You would not find this crop anywhere in India. It grows at selected places, as it requires specific climatic conditions. It is about not only land but also the micro-environmental conditions, which helps it grow. It’s a special crop and needs special policies,” an Agricultural officer, said.
Locals blamed the Government for turning the saffron fields into residential colonies and asked how they can stop the construction when they themselves are constructing buildings on the saffron land. “The newly allotted Degree College, Spice Park and some others buildings have been constructed in the Saffron fields,” they said.
Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Ghulam Mohammad Dar, denied the presence of any land mafia. “At some places, the people are building houses on their own land and that has been happening for many years owing to the increase in population,” he said.
Asked about the construction of commercial establishments and construction of residential houses by the outsiders, Dar said: “I will look into it and if people were found violating the Act somewhere, action will be taken,” he said.
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