In December 2023, the Indian government approved five new railway lines in Kashmir, including the Awantipora-Shopian route. This initiative is part of a larger plan to enhance connectivity between Indian-administered Kashmir and major cities across India. According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the expansion aims to benefit local communities and businesses by improving transport links and boosting tourism. However, critics have raised concerns about the environmental and social costs of this project.
The proposed lines are expected to affect 288 hectares of land, much of it fertile farmland, posing significant risks to agricultural livelihoods. In Shopian district alone, 50 households are facing displacement, with their primary source of income under threat. Among those impacted is Mohammad Yaseen, an orchardist whose 8 kanals of land have been demarcated for the project. The land, vital to his family’s livelihood, represents the broader challenges faced by the farming community in the region. Despite assurances from authorities about fair compensation and resettlement, affected residents express skepticism, pointing to past projects where promises remained unfulfilled. As construction plans advance, concerns about the ecological impact and the preservation of Kashmir’s agricultural heritage continue to grow.
This report sheds light on the voices of those at the forefront of this development and their fight to preserve their land and livelihoods. The agricultural landscape in Kashmir is crucial to the region’s economy, culture, and environmental stability. With over 80% of the population depending on agriculture for their livelihood, the average landholding size in Jammu and Kashmir is just 1.55 acres—significantly smaller than the national average of 2.9 acres. The primary crops include rice, maize, and wheat, but the past few decades have seen a shift towards high-value horticulture, particularly apples, which engage nearly 450,000 families in the region. This transformation has helped rural communities economically but has also made them vulnerable to land acquisitions for infrastructure projects. Infrastructure projects like railway expansions and road constructions have taken over prime agricultural and orchard lands, threatening farming communities of their livelihoods.
For example, a proposed railway line in Shopian would require the acquisition of 278 hectares of fertile land, largely apple orchards. Similarly, a semi-ring road project in central Kashmir acquired 239 hectares of agricultural land, causing significant livelihood losses. These developments not only threaten economic stability but also disrupt the cultural fabric of agrarian communities, which are deeply tied to the land. Beyond economic and cultural impacts, these projects exacerbate climate challenges. Land acquisitions reduce green cover, contribute to soil degradation, and increase emissions from expanded construction and transportation networks. These effects are compounded by climate change, which has already brought erratic weather patterns, glacier melting, and water shortages to the region.
Additionally, increased tourism and infrastructure development strain natural resources, pollute water sources, and lead to deforestation, further destabilizing the environment. This interplay of economic, cultural, and environmental threats underscores the need for policies that prioritize sustainable development while respecting the livelihoods and cultural heritage of local communities. Integrating the voices of affected farmers into these discussions and implementing more equitable compensation and relocation policies are critical to mitigating these challenges.
