Shopian residents demand proposed railway line along Ranbiara
Shopian: The residents of different areas of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Thursday held a peaceful protest to demand that the proposed railway line must be constructed along Ranbiara.
The residents of different areas assembled at Pahnoo Shopian and said that the proposed railway line if constructed will be disastrous for the fruit industry.
They said that land under fruit cultivation is shrinking and if such a mega line will be constructed through the orchards, there will be dozens of families who will be left landless.
“We aren’t against the railway line but the government must construct it along the bank of rivulet Ranbiara so as to save both agriculture and horticulture land,” they said.
Mohammad Yousuf, district president Congress who was part of the protest said that an earlier survey was conducted to construct this line along Ranbiara Nallah but due to unknown reasons a fresh survey was conducted.
He said that the government must think about the damage to apple orchards if it will be constructed as per recent survey.
He said that he along with the public will take up this issue at concerned forums so that people won’t suffer.
The locals requested LG Manoj Sinha, Deputy Commissioner Shopian and other concerned authorities to look into the matter and take public into confidence before taking any such decision.
