There is a way to Pahalgam |
The proposal to construct a new highway and railway line between Bijbehara and Pahalgam raises serious concerns regarding necessity, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic justice, especially when adequate road connectivity already exists.
At present, two functional roads—K.P.Road and the Zirpora–Pahalgam Road—connect Anantnag to Pahalgam. While these routes may require upgradation, widening, and better maintenance, their existence fundamentally questions the need for an entirely new corridor, particularly one that cuts through orchards and fertile agricultural land. These projects would directly affect small and marginal farmers, whose livelihoods depend heavily on apple orchards, horticulture, and agriculture. Land acquisition in this region is not merely a transfer of property but a loss of generational economic security, cultural attachment, and social stability. Compensation mechanisms often fail to account for long-term income loss, especially in horticulture-based economies.
The environmental costs are equally significant. Orchard belts act as carbon sinks, protect soil........