Development at cost of livelihood is not acceptable: Iltija on proposed railway line in Anantnag

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Sunday accused the Jammu and Kashmir government of depriving the people of the Union Territory of their main source of livelihood.

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Speaking to reporters at Liver village panchayat in Anantnag, Iltija Mufti protested against the proposed railway line passing through the orchards and raised concerns about its impact on the livelihoods of local residents.

“People here are not opposed to development. However, development at the expense of their livelihood is unacceptable. Here, the losses outweigh the gains. We are standing at a spot where there is a forest behind us and orchards in front of us,” the PDP leader said.

Iltija Mufti recounted meeting an 80-year-old widow who owns just 1-2 kanals of land. “The main source of livelihood here is horticulture. Many have taken loans to cultivate apple and walnut trees. If you take away their means of livelihood, where will these people go, and what will they do?” she said, criticising the ruling National Conference government.

Highlighting the issue of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir, she remarked, “We are aware of the high unemployment levels here. There is no private sector, and not everyone can secure a government job.”

“Horticulture is their primary source of income, and you are taking that away from them,” she alleged.

Expressing concerns about the environmental fragility of the region, Iltija Mufti said, “We are well aware of the environmental and ecological fragility in Jammu and Kashmir. We will not accept development at the cost of our environment. Therefore, we reject the state government’s proposed railway line through Liver. We are here to protest against it.”

“We will never, under any circumstances, accept a railway line that threatens the livelihood of the people,” she asserted, as PDP workers chanted, “Take back the railway project.”