Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 5: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today demanded clarity from the Government on the proposed satellite townships along the Srinagar Ring Road, emphasizing that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have a right to know who will reside in these townships and their purpose.
Addressing a press conference at the PDP headquarters, chief spokesperson of the party Mehboob Beg, referred to an order issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department about developing satellite townships along Phase 1 of the Srinagar Ring Road, stretching from the Galender area of Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district to the Narbal area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district. “The order mentions land details and cites document HB/CLA/2718-21 dated 18-07-2024,” he said. Click here to watch video
Beg raised two primary concerns; the development of satellite townships and the depth of restricted land-500 meters on both sides of the road-where construction by locals is barred. “The government must clarify if these townships are meant for the domiciles of Jammu and Kashmir. People deserve to know who will reside in these townships and why construction is restricted,” he said.
He revealed that 30 townships are planned, requiring 4,000 kanals of land per township, amounting to 1.2 lakh kanals of land in total. Beg pointed out that the land being acquired is primarily agricultural and horticultural, the backbone of the region’s economy. “This is a land-deficit region, and such plans violate the Srinagar Master Plan and the government’s land-use policy,” he added.
Beg also questioned whether affected farmers had been adequately compensated and involved in the decision-making process. He warned that if such projects continue, farmers would become landless within five years. “This is a direct contradiction to the government’s promise of doubling farmers’ incomes,” he added.
The PDP spokesman said that the depth of 500 meters on both sides of the Ring Road is shocking. “It means that nothing apart from these townships can be constructed in these zones. If the government is taking the land, has it provided compensation according to the law and taken affected farmers into confidence?” Beg asked.
Beg said that the project was sanctioned during the governor’s rule and not by an elected government.
The PDP leader urged the Omar Abdullah-led government to respond.
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