Residents of Pulwama, Kashmir, are raising concerns over the government’s decision to transfer 4,834 kanals and 19 marlas of land for the establishment of a new campus for the National Institute of Technology (NIT) at Newa. The proposed land, they say, is home to fertile apple and almond orchards, which many local families rely on for their livelihoods.
Ab Rashid Lone, a resident of Newa, said, “We have spent our day and night together for decades to cultivate almond and apple orchards, which provide for our families. If this land is taken away, our future will be jeopardized.”
The affected land is claimed by residents from at least eight villages, and they fear the loss of their land will leave them without a means to support themselves. Locals argue that instead of creating new opportunities, the government’s decision threatens their economic stability. “This land supports our children’s education and livelihood,” said another resident, highlighting the crucial role the orchards play in the community’s wellbeing.
MLA Pulwama Waheed Ur Rehman Para appealed directly to Prime Minister Modi to reconsider the land transfer. “Newa Pulwama’s Kherwa land, a vital almond-producing area sustaining thousands of livelihoods, must not be used for the proposed NIT,” he wrote on social media. He suggested relocating the project to a different area in Tral, specifically the Shal Dramun region, which he believes would be better suited for the campus.
Para has also said that while Pulwama welcomes the establishment of an NIT, the appropriation of 5000 kanals of land without fair compensation or guaranteed jobs for locals is unacceptable. “This project will face strong resistance,” he warned.
PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, Iltija Mufti, also voiced strong objections, questioning the necessity of taking such a large portion of prime agricultural land for the project. “If education was such a priority, why is there a lopsided reservation system in the first place?” she posted on social media.
Meanwhile, the local administration has already initiated the process of transferring the land to NIT authorities, with the Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama forming a team to expedite the land handover. However, locals are urging the government to reconsider and find alternative land that will not harm their agricultural base.
