Don’t repeat Uttarakhand’s mistakes in J&K: Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar, Dec 18: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday criticised the proposed satellite township projects in Jammu and Kashmir, warning that the project could trigger an environmental disaster.

Addressing a news conference in Srinagar, she said that the party was not against the development but it should not come at the cost of the environment, scenic beauty, and the agricultural land.

“We don’t want development at the cost of our livelihood. Our new generation will not have any land to live on. We will have to go to Bihar, UP, Rajasthan, and Punjab to work. We will not have anything left if the upcoming projects are planned haphazardly,” Mehbooba said.

Referring to the abrogation of Article 370, she said that the Centre “illegally snatched one of our identities from us.”

“But now whatever is left, they will snatch it as well. Our land, our forests, and water resources are our USP and J&K is famous for these things worldwide. But the way the government is planning things there are very dangerous clouds over it,” the PDP chief said.

She warned of environmental disaster while referring to the execution of three major projects launched by the Centre.

The former chief minister was referring to the Rajouri-Baramulla highway project which is in the pipeline besides the ring road project from Galandar to Ganderbal and the expansion of the railways.

“These are the three projects, in which lakhs of kanals of our agricultural land is affected. Along with that, our forests in which lakhs of deodar trees besides the water resources including the small springs will get affected,” she said.

Mehbooba expressed her apprehension that during the execution of the major three projects, the rivers and other water bodies will be affected.

“We have seen how much destruction we are facing here because of mining. The water level is going down with each passing day due to mining and in the near future there will be no water available for farmers for irrigation purposes,” she said.

The PDP chief said that during militancy the handicrafts and horticulture kept the economy of Jammu and Kashmir alive.

“But I doubt that if the destruction which we have faced in the past is not enough for them, the rest of the resources that we have will get degraded too,” she said.

The former chief minister said that the Government of India was doubling the Baramulla-Banihal railway line besides taking it to Baramulla-Uri, Sopore, Kupwara, Awantipora, Shopian, Anantnag, Bijbehara, and Pahalgam.

“They want to take the railway to Pahalgam, which is our tourist spot. There are many villages there, whose land is coming under it,” she said.

Mehbooba said that the Centre should not forget the tragedy that happened in Uttarakhand or Himachal Pradesh.

“If we already have Mughal Road they should construct a tunnel or construct another parallel road. If there is no connectivity somewhere, connect those places, but what is the need to build a parallel road,” she said.

The PDP chief said that the people living near the Ring Road had been asked not to construct anything within a radius of 500 meters.

“Ironically, the compensation given to these people is peanuts,” she said.

The former chief minister said that the Centre implemented all the new laws post-abrogation but in terms of giving compensation, the government has done it as per the old laws and people got less compensation.

Referring to the establishment of townships, she said that the project was executed by the Housing and Urban Development Department, which is under the elected government.

“We want to request him (Omar Abdullah) to at least stop this township project. We will not talk about big projects because we feel that despite having 50 seats and three members of parliament, they (NC) do not have that courage. They did not have the courage earlier as well,” Mehbooba said.

She said that the NC government could “at least” stop the township project.

“At least the NC government can decide which road is to be built here and where we need the train. Our farmers should not be harmed,” the former chief minister said.

About the township, she said that in 2016 during the PDP-BJP government Omar Abdullah issued a statement and later tweeted as well saying that the government was establishing a Sainik Colony for retired soldiers.

“But no such project or proposal was there. Today, a satellite township is being built. We want to know from Omar Abdullah about it although, one of his advisors said that it is being built for the local people,” the PDP chief said.

She said that the government should come clear about the project and clarify who are the people who will benefit from the project.

“For whom the government is building 30 townships,” Mehbooba said.

She said that the environment and agricultural land were already under threat and the water was already being distributed between the countries - India and Pakistan.

The former chief minister urged the CM Omar Abdullah to take action on the projects falling in his domain.

“What is not in your hands, act on it. Other issues will take time and we will work together on that. But you should talk about our environment and our land which is being destroyed while our farmers are not even able to talk about it because they know if they speak, they will be put in jail,” she said.

Mehbooba said that after the elected government assumed power, they had expected that there would be no fear among the people.

“But the fear has not reduced yet. I request the government today to tell us about the three projects that I have named,” she said.