Mehbooba Mufti Cautions Against Potential 'Uttarakhand-Like Catastrophe' in Kashmir Due to Reckless Development
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Srinagar, Dec 18 (NationPress) The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, expressed her concerns on Wednesday regarding development initiatives that compromise the environment, suggesting that they could incite an ecological crisis similar to that of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in the region.
During a press conference, Mufti voiced her opposition to three significant development projects, claiming they would result in the loss of local agricultural land, environmental degradation, and the destruction of the area’s natural beauty.
She specifically criticized the proposed alternative route from Rajouri to Baramulla, the dual railway track expansion from Qazigund to Baramulla through several districts including Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Srinagar, and Budgam, as well as the Ring Road designed to circumvent Srinagar city and connect to Manigam in Ganderbal, linking with the Srinagar-Leh highway.
"These roads are constructed at the expense of our farmers’ agricultural lands. Trees will need to be cut down for the Rajouri-Baramulla road, and there are plans to extend the railway to the tourist destination of Pahalgam. What kind of development jeopardizes our farmers’ lands, exacerbates mining issues that already affect us, and may deplete numerous natural springs affected by these highways and tracks?"
"I fear we are on the verge of creating a disaster similar to that of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh due to this careless development. We already have the Mughal Road connecting Rajouri to the Valley. Why is there a need for an alternative route?" Mehbooba Mufti questioned.
She further remarked: "In terms of law enforcement, 50 percent of seats are allocated to outsiders under NEET by applying laws that came into effect post the abrogation of Article 370. However, when it comes to compensating landowners whose properties are taken for highway construction, the laws that were in place before the abrogation of Article 370 are still applied."
The former chief minister also raised concerns regarding reports of 300 townships being developed in the Kashmir Valley.
"Who are these townships intended for? If the goal is to alleviate congestion in Srinagar, we support the initiative, but establishing 300 townships seems unnecessary. Who will be settled in these townships?" she questioned.
Mehbooba Mufti criticized the government led by Omar Abdullah, stating that it is focused on acquiring what it does not possess while neglecting pressing matters that fall within the jurisdiction of the elected government.
