Land acquisition in Pulwama for NIT campus ruffles feathers

Srinagar, Dec 26: The Deputy Commissioner's office in Pulwama has initiated the transfer of nearly 5000 kanals of land for the establishment of a new campus for the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar.

However, the demand has raised concerns among local politicians and residents about its justification and implications.

As per an order issued on 24 December by Assistant Commissioner Revenue Pulwama, a team comprising officers and officials from various tehsils, has been constituted to expedite the preparation of necessary revenue documents for 4834 kanals and 19 marlas land. The team reported at the office of the Assistant Commissioner to begin their work today.

The move has sparked skepticism from some quarters. Wahid Parra, MLA from Pulwama, today took to X to express his anguish with the land acquisition."Pulwama welcomes the establishment of an NIT, but seizing 5,000 kanals of land is unacceptable. Without fair compensation and guaranteed jobs for locals, this project will face strong resistance," he wrote.

Iltija Mufti, daughter of former CM Mehbooba Mufti, also expressed her concerns on X. She wrote, "Grabbing land in Kashmir under the ruse of ‘development’ in J&K continues unabated. Pray tell what’s the need to seize 5,000 kanals of prime agricultural land in Pulwama to establish a NIT? If education was such a priority why have a lopsided reservation in the first place?"

The process for identification of land for expansion of NIT Srinagar began in 2018. In a review meeting, the then Advisor to Governor Khursheed Ahmed Ganai directed Deputy Commissioner Srinagar to “identify land for setting up an out-campus of NIT Srinagar where new departments can be established.” The land was also sought for hostels of the Institute.

Currently NIT Srinagar has over 500 kanal campus in Hazratbal area of Srinagar.

Speaking to Greater Kashmir, Ganai said, “the demand for nearly 5000 kanals for NIT expansion seems excessive on the face of it”. He said NIT Srinagar must “relook at its land requirement and manage the land resources better. “Vertical constructions must be explored.”

“This,” he added, “will be a cost effective option too as land is a very cost intensive resource.” He added that it must be ensured that the land identified and allotted for NIT Srinagar expansion and similar projects is not agricultural or horticultural land. “Productive lands must be protected,” he said.

An order issued by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development in 2014, gives an insight into the land requirements of institutes of higher learning. For NITs, 300 acres (2400 kanals) of land is required, while IITs have a requirement of 500 acres. The same order notes that the land requirements were established “long time ago when land was available in abundance”. It notes that land availability has shrunk and governments have “found it difficult to acquire land leading to inordinate delay in setting up of central higher education institutions.” A committee had been constituted to relook at the land requirement norms of institutes of higher learning by the Ministry.