Srinagar, Oct 11: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has raised concerns over the opening up of orchards and agricultural land in Jammu and Kashmir for commercial high-rise construction, warning of potential risks to food security, the environment and public safety.
In a post on X, Mehbooba shared a post by PDP MLA Waheed Para on the government’s Ease of Doing Business laws and questioned the implications of allowing commercial development on agricultural land.
“In the name of development, J&K’s orchards and agricultural land are being opened up for commercial high rises, even as experts warn of catastrophic seismic and liquefaction risks,” she wrote.
“This is not development. It is a dangerous betrayal of our land, our food security and our people’s lives,” she added.
Mehbooba also questioned who would be held accountable if the changes in land-use and construction regulations resulted in a disaster.
“Who will take responsibility when this reckless experiment turns into a disaster?” she asked.
Her remarks came after Para criticised the new Ease of Doing Business framework, arguing that provisions easing construction approvals and permitting commercial activities in residential areas could weaken regulatory oversight and urban planning.
Para had also warned that construction affecting drainage channels, wetlands and floodplains could increase Kashmir’s vulnerability to flooding, recalling the devastating floods of 2014.
The concerns raised by the PDP leaders come amid a wider debate over the implications of the government’s regulatory changes for land use, building permissions and environmental safeguards in Jammu and Kashmir.
The government has projected ease-of-doing-business reforms as a means of simplifying procedures and facilitating investment. The opposition, however, has questioned whether the changes provide adequate safeguards for agricultural land, fragile ecosystems and densely populated urban areas.
