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SAQIB ALI
Kashmir’s historic apple orchards, crucial to the region’s economy, face a significant threat from a proposed railway project. The Indian government plans to construct several railway lines in Jammu and Kashmir, including a 77.5-kilometre stretch from Anantnag to Pahalgam. This route will cut through key apple-growing areas like Dachnipora, Mattan Karewas, and Bijbehara, putting the livelihoods of local apple growers at risk.
The orchards, established before the Mughal era and expanded by Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin in the 15th century, produce over two million tonnes of apples annually, generating approximately 120 billion rupees. This revenue surpasses that of the region’s tourism sector. However, apple growers like 62-year-old Mohd Altaf fear losing their land and livelihood. “Our orchards are our lifeline,” he says. “If the government acquires our land, we will lose everything.”
Other growers share similar concerns. Abdul Rashid from Karewas questions the project’s development claims, stating it doesn’t benefit the local apple industry, already suffering from climate change and transportation issues. Abdul Haq from Bijbehara believes the railway is aimed at boosting religious tourism at the expense of local agriculture.
Environmentalists, including Raja Muzaffar Bhat, argue that the fertile land should be preserved. The project, confirmed by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, involves surveying five new lines in the region, which would require acquiring 278 hectares of fertile land, mostly apple orchards.
Despite the government’s dismissive stance and the commencement of preliminary work, the affected farmers remain resolute. They aim to protect their land and heritage, emphasising that development should not come at the cost of their primary source of income and way of life.
