Srinagar: The documents reveal that 30 town planning schemes are set to be developed along the length of the Srinagar Ring Road, with each scheme covering an average of 200 hectares of land through ‘land pooling’, The Wire reported.

Spanning regions from Gallandhar in Pulwama to Tulmulla in Ganderbal and Mirgund in Baramulla, this plan has raised significant concerns. The proposed developments would transform over 48,000 kanals of prime agricultural land, threatening livelihoods and deepening fears of ecological harm.

Critics argue that the plans undermine Kashmir’s agriculture sector, which is vital to the local economy.

The affected land sustains small and marginal farmers, who make up the majority of the population. Concerns about displacement, loss of income, and environmental degradation have intensified as the project progresses, especially in districts like Budgam, where large-scale land acquisitions have already disrupted local communities.

Activists also question the need for such developments on fertile land, warning of potential violations of land use policies and master plans. They stress upon the risks of exacerbating economic disparities and ecological instability in the region, urging the government to reconsider the long-term impacts of these town planning schemes.