The residents of Babahara and Monghama area in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district have expressed resentment against the proposed railway line through their villages.
The residents of both villages staged a protest and demanded intervention of the Union Railway Minister.
The residents of these areas told the news agencyโKashmir News Observer (KNO) that the government must either shift this proposed railway line from Kakapora to Shopian or they shouldn’t construct it as this will leave hundreds of families landless.
Bashir Ahmad, a senior citizen of Babhara told KNO that they planted apple trees 3-4 decades ago and since then they have been taking care of them by spending their money and time on them.
He said that when these trees started bearing fruits, the government proposed a railway line that is going to leave them land less, adding that locals have already very little land as they have given it to different projects and if now railway line will go through their village, it will leave them landless
Bilal Ahmad, another local said that most of the people in the village are dependent on their orchards for their livelihood and if this railway line will be constructed, it will snatch their livelihood
He said that they don’t need such projects that will snatch their livelihood and even many people will lose their houses as well.
Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Monghama said that they already have land for circular land, national highway and many other projects and if a railway line is constructed, they will be left without any land and where they will go.
He said that instead of snatching livelihood, the government must start projects that are harmless for locals.
Locals said that before taking such projects the government must take local people into confidence. They said that at a time when the unemployment rate is at its peak, people will lose their orchards on which they are solely dependent, and then they will die of starvation.
Sara Banoo, a local said that she has four daughters while her husband is unwell and are solely dependent on their orchard and if they will lose it then they won’t have any other option other than begging.
She said that there are dozens of such cases in this village and the government shouldn’t take up such projects.
They requested higher ups to look into the matter at an earliest at an earliest and take care poor people before giving final green signal to the projectโ(KNO)
