Parigam-newa hamlet almond orchards present stunning landscape
Locals demand organising of ‘Jashn-e-Bahar’ festival in the area
Pulwama: Parigam and Newa, hamlets in Pulwama district of south Kashmir are renowned for their picturesque almond and apple orchards that contribute significantly to the region’s economy and offer stunning landscapes, especially during the blooming season.
The residents of the area said that currently almond orchards are in full bloom and offer stunning landscapes where hundreds of people have been visiting every day.
They said that there is a need to organise a ‘Jashn-e-Bahar’ festival in the area to provide economic opportunities through tourism and cultural engagement.
Faizan Ahmad, a resident of Parigam area said that at a time when most of the almond orchard land has already been converted into apple orchards; there are still hundreds of kanals under almond cultivation in Parigam hamlet.
He said that if a festival will be organised in the area, it will help to create awareness among the public that every variety has its importance and further conversion can be halted.
He added that if the conversion rate remains unchanged there won’t be any almond orchard left in next two ot three years.
Tariq Ahmad Naik, another local resident said that there are thousands of almond trees in Parigam-newa hamlet that offer a unique landscape as they are situated at a height from the residential areas.
He said that this is the time when spring festival can be organised here and it can accommodate thousands of visitors.
By hosting ‘Jashn-e-Bahar’ amidst the blooming almond orchards, residents aim to promote tourism, celebrate their cultural identity and draw attention to the natural beauty and economic importance of their orchards.
They have sought the attention of Tourism Department J&K and Deputy Commissioner Pulwama in this regard.
Pertinently, there have been proposals to establish a new campus of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in the area that hosts the almond orchards.
This plan involves transferring approximately 5,000 kanals of land, much of which encompasses these fertile orchards.
The local residents have expressed strong opposition, fearing the loss of their livelihoods and the environmental impact of converting agricultural land for construction purposes.
They have once again urged the government to reconsider and identify alternative sites for the NIT campus to preserve their agricultural heritage.
