Delhi seizing vast tracts of Agricultural land under pretext of NIT construction
Srinagar: In Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, concerns are mounting over the Indian practice of land grab under the guise of developmental projects.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the latest move involves the allocation of nearly 5,000 kanals of prime agricultural land in Pulwama district in the name of establishment of a new campus of the National Institute of Technology (NIT).
The acquisition of 4,834 kanals of land for the NIT campus has drawn sharp criticism, with many deeming the move unnecessary and unjustified. Local residents fear that such projects are part of a larger strategy to seize land under the pretext of development. They question the rationale behind acquiring such a vast expanse of fertile land for an educational institution.
Local communities are particularly concerned about the long-term implications of this project, which they believe could alter the territory’s demographic and political landscape. The scale of the land acquisition has raised alarm among residents, who are questioning the true intent behind the initiative.
“Why is such an enormous tract of prime agricultural land being acquired for an engineering college? If education is genuinely a priority, why isn’t the Modi regime addressing more pressing issues like the imbalanced reservation policies affecting Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC), which are already undermining education and employment opportunities in the region?” asked a local resident.
Academic experts and political leaders have also voiced their concerns over the land acquisition. Scholar Tahir Feroz highlighted the disproportionate scale of the proposed NIT Pulwama campus, noting that its 600-acre size is twice that of Europe’s largest urban campus at University College Dublin and three times that of MIT in the United States. Feroz also flagged the potential environmental consequences, stating that Kashmir’s fertile land is already under significant strain due to large-scale infrastructure projects.
The Deputy Commissioner’s office in Pulwama has initiated the transfer of nearly 5,000 kanals for the project. Waheed Para, a leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Pulwama said the acquisition of 5,000 kanals of land is unacceptable. Without fair compensation and employment guarantees for local residents, this project will face strong resistance.”
PDP leader Iltija Mufti also raised questions about the necessity of such a massive land grab, accusing the authorities of continuing an unchecked campaign of land acquisition under the guise of development. “What justifies the seizure of 5,000 kanals of prime agricultural land for NIT Pulwama? If education is truly a priority, why are policies so skewed against the interests of the territory’s youth?” she asked.
