Pulwama: Land marking for the proposed Pulwama–Shopian rail project has sparked anger among villagers in several hamlets, with residents accusing authorities of moving ahead without adequate consultation and raising fears over land loss, livelihoods and environmental damage.
Villagers said survey teams arrived in the area last week to mark boundaries and place pegs on fields and grazing land, prompting immediate protests. “They came and started marking our land without telling us anything,” said a farmer from the affected village. “We were not consulted, and no one explained what compensation or rehabilitation will look like.”
Local leaders and community groups said the markings have unsettled families who depend on smallholdings and common pastures for their income. Several residents expressed concern that the alignment would cut through orchards and agricultural plots, disrupt irrigation channels and reduce access to grazing grounds for livestock.
Environmental worries were also voiced. Activists and villagers warned that construction could affect local watercourses and fragile hill slopes, increasing the risk of erosion and impacting biodiversity. They urged authorities to publish an environmental impact assessment and to hold public hearings before any irreversible work begins.
Officials from the rail project’s implementing agency said the marking exercise was an early step in a long process and that detailed surveys, compensation packages and statutory clearances would follow. “Land marking is part of route finalisation and does not mean immediate acquisition,” a project official said, adding that the agency would share details on compensation norms and rehabilitation measures once the alignment is finalised.
Despite reassurances, villagers demanded a halt to further on-ground activity until a transparent consultation process is completed. Several panchayat members and civil-society groups have called for district-level meetings, written guarantees on compensation, and independent verification of environmental safeguards.
Political representatives urged both sides to engage constructively. Some local lawmakers said they would seek a review of the alignment to minimise displacement and protect orchards, while others highlighted the potential benefits of improved connectivity, including easier access to markets, healthcare and education for remote communities.
As tensions persist, residents said they will continue to press for clear timelines, fair compensation and meaningful participation in decisions that affect their land and livelihoods. Authorities said they will convene stakeholder consultations in the coming days to address concerns and to outline the next steps in the project’s planning process.
