Farmers, orchardists oppose rail line through fertile land in south Kashmir
With tears in eyes protesters say project threatens their only livelihoods
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, farmers and orchardists in Shopian and Pulwama districts have strongly opposed the proposed Kakapora–Shopian railway line, saying the project will destroy fertile agricultural land and centuries-old apple orchards, pushing thousands of families towards economic ruin.
According to Kashmir Media Service, scenes of anguish and resistance were witnessed as farmers, including elderly men and women, gathered in orchards where railway authorities have begun fresh land demarcation. Viral videos circulating on social media show tearful orchardists standing beside newly installed iron poles, fearing that the proposed railway alignment will swallow their only source of livelihood.
The proposed rail track is set to pass through more than 30 villages between Kakapora in Pulwama district and Shopian, an area renowned for high-density apple orchards that sustain thousands of households. Over the past few weeks, railway teams have intensified demarcation by planting 2.5-foot iron poles across productive farmland, signalling the start of land acquisition.
Local farmers said the orchards are not merely property but the result of generations of hard labour. Nazir Ahmad, an orchardist from Shopian, said the seizure of even a small portion of his land would render him destitute. “If this railway cuts through my orchard, I will be left with nothing. This land feeds my family,” he said in a video message.
Another farmer, Farooq Ahmad from Kunus village, said nearly nine kanals of his fertile land have been marked for the project. He questioned the rationale of routing the railway through orchards and demanded a fresh survey to identify an alternative alignment through barren land. “We live off this land. Development cannot mean our destruction,” he said.
Meanwhile, villagers, including women and elderly residents, have begun assembling in fields during demarcation work in an attempt to stop survey teams. Protesters said they are not opposed to development but reject projects that destroy livelihoods and food security.
Observers say the move to acquire fertile agricultural land for infrastructure projects reflects a broader pattern in IIOJK, where locals accuse the occupation authorities of ignoring the economic and social consequences of such decisions. They warn that continued land acquisition without consultation will intensify public resentment and further alienate the population.
The protesting farmers have appealed for immediate intervention, demanding that the railway project be rerouted to protect orchards and farmlands that form the backbone of south Kashmir’s rural economy.
