It was shocking for me when I learned that Justice (Retired) Hasnain Masoodi, the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Pampore, is advocating for the construction of a road from Khrew to Pahalgam. This proposed road will pass through Wahab Sahib, Syedabad Pastuna, Karmula, Tral, Lehandajan, and Salar.

An official government statement, made in response to Mr. Hasnain Masoodi’s Assembly Question (AQ), said that the road construction is at the DPR stage and that the distance from Srinagar to Pahalgam via Khrew-Pampore will be reduced by 30 kilometers. I find this government statement absurd and ludicrous, especially at a time when everyone in the government—from the Prime Minister to the Chief Minister, and from Union Ministers to State Ministers—talks about environmental conservation, wildlife conservation, and achieving the targets under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our leaders speak at various national and international forums about the challenges we face due to climate change. Yet, when it comes to fulfilling the commitments made at these forums, we succumb to local pressures. I couldn’t believe that Mr. Masoodi, a former judge of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court and a highly learned man, would support such a “developmental” project. I am sure the people of his assembly constituency have pressured him to push this project forward; otherwise, he would never recommend something that would impact our forests, environment, and biodiversity.

The proposed Khrew-Pahalgam road project will not only be disastrous for the Pampore assembly constituency but will also impact the entire mountain range from Khrew to Pahalgam. I understand the political compulsions under which our politicians operate, but an MLA or MP is also a leader responsible for guiding the people on environmental challenges.

In a place like Jammu & Kashmir—especially the Kashmir Valley—our political leaders must be even more cautious. Our biodiversity and environment have already suffered due to deforestation, urbanization, riverbed mining, clay mining, emissions from cement factories and motor vehicles, and unscientific waste disposal. Khrew and its adjoining areas have suffered immensely........

© Kashmir Observer