Shopian residents stage peaceful protest:
Demand fair compensation for land acquired under NH-444 project
Locals say livelihood at stake, urge administration to intervene
Shopian: Residents of several villages in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Thursday staged a peaceful protest, demanding fair and adequate compensation for the orchards and agricultural land being acquired for the ongoing NH-444 road project.
Scores of locals gathered along the project stretch, holding placards and raising slogans to press for what they termed their “genuine and long-pending demands”. While the community reiterated its support for the highway’s development, they demanded compensation for land which they described as the backbone of their livelihood.
“Our orchards are not just pieces of land. They are our only source of income. Losing them without proper compensation will push many families into financial distress,” said Abdul Rashid, a protesting orchardist. He added that farmers had reached out to authorities several times in the past, but “no one took our pleas seriously”.
Another local, Mushtaq Ahmad, said the villagers support developmental projects but not at the cost of their survival.
“We are not against the highway. In fact, we want better connectivity. But the government must ensure justice. Give us compensation or jobs that reflects the real worth of our land,” he said.
Protesters lamented that the administration had failed to take their concerns on board, leaving them with no option but to come out on the roads. “We tried repeatedly to communicate through formal channels, but our appeals went unheard. That is why we had to register our protest today,” said a group of residents.
They warned that demonstrations would continue until the authorities provide them compensation or jobs and address all genuine grievances. “We will remain peaceful, but we will not step back until we receive what we rightfully deserve,” the locals said.
Residents urged the district administration and project authorities to hold a fresh assessment of the affected land, taking into account the value of orchards, the age of fruit-bearing trees, and the long-term economic loss to farmers.
The protest concluded peacefully, with villagers hoping that their concerns will now be taken seriously and addressed without further delay.
