Jahangeer Ganaie
Shopian, Mar 12: The residents of Reshipora and its adjacent areas in Zainapora hamlet of South Kashmir’s Shopian district are up in arms against the proposed railway line through the village.
The residents of the area said that the government must either shift this proposed railway line or shouldn’t construct it as the project will leave hundreds of families landless.
Bashir Ahmad, a senior citizen of the village said that they have planted apple trees 3-4 decades ago and since then they have been taking care of them by spending their money and time.
He said that when these trees started bearing fruits, the government has proposed a railway line that is going to leave them landless.
Junaid Ahmad, another local, said that most of the people in the village are dependent on their orchards for their livelihood and if this railway line will be constructed, it will snatch their livelihood.
He said they don’t need such projects that will snatch their livelihood and even many people will become homeless as well.
Locals said that before taking such projects the government must take local people into confidence.
They said that people will lose their orchards on which they are solely dependent, therefore the project if executed will push them towards starvation.
Dilshada Banoo, a local woman said that she has four daughters while her husband is unwell and the family is completely dependent on their orchard. “We will have no other option than to beg on roads in case the project is executed,” she said.
The local urged the higher ups to look into the matter at an earliest.
