KD NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, Aug 2: In a major relief to local residents and environmental activists in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday dismissed a petition concerning the proposed setting up of a new National Institute of Technology (NIT) campus at Qariwa Ranbirpora near Newa. The tribunal dropped the case after both NIT Srinagar and the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama submitted on record that no land had been acquired and no trees had been cut for the project in the area.
The matter was taken up by the NGT’s Principal Bench, led by Justice Prakash Srivastava and expert member Dr. Senthil Veil, which noted that since there was no concrete action yet on the ground, the petition filed by noted environmental activist Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat was “premature.” However, the tribunal made it clear that the applicant reserves the right to approach the forum again if any cause of action arises in the future.
The case traces back to earlier this year when Dr. Bhat approached the tribunal with the concern that authorities were planning to fell a large number of green trees in the agriculturally and ecologically sensitive horticulture zone of Newa. He feared that approximately 4,500 kanals of fertile Karewa land, home to thousands of fruit-bearing trees and diverse flora, could be devastated in the name of infrastructure development. His petition urged the tribunal to intervene before irreversible ecological damage occurred.
In response to the tribunal’s earlier notice dated April 1, 2025, the Director of NIT Srinagar filed an affidavit stating categorically that no land had been allotted, transferred, or even identified for the establishment of an additional campus in Newa Pulwama or anywhere else. The institute clarified that while they are exploring the possibility of expanding the campus, no formal acquisition or possession of land has taken place so far.
The affidavit submitted by NIT Srinagar read:
“The Answering Respondent most humbly submits and clarifies that no land has been allotted, transferred, or handed over to NIT Srinagar at Newa Karewas, Pulwama, or elsewhere. Further, no possession of the proposed land has been taken. Thus, the Applicant’s claims regarding felling of trees, ecological degradation, or biodiversity loss are premature and devoid of merits and factual basis.”
The Deputy Commissioner Pulwama echoed the same stance in a separate affidavit submitted on July 24, 2025. The district administration assured the tribunal that no development had taken place on the ground and that if a project is taken up in the future, it will follow all environmental norms and procedures. NIT Srinagar reiterated its commitment to environmental preservation, stating that any such project would be subjected to comprehensive due diligence and mandatory regulatory clearances.
While the tribunal dismissed the petition, it acknowledged the underlying concern and added that the applicant was at liberty to approach it again should any land acquisition or construction activity begin. The order, passed by Justice Srivastava and Dr. Veil, stated:
“Having regard to the above, we are of the view that the OA at this stage is premature. Hence, it is dismissed, however, with the liberty to the Applicant to approach the Tribunal, if any cause of action arises in future.”
Reacting to the development, Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat told Kashmir Despatch that while the case may have been dismissed on technical grounds, the very act of filing the petition prevented a potential ecological disaster. He said the NGT’s initial intervention helped bring much-needed scrutiny and forced the authorities to clarify their position publicly.
“Yes, I know the petition was premature as no damage had yet taken place. But had I not gone to the NGT, the government would have proceeded silently. The tribunal’s notice acted as a check, saving thousands of trees and the precious Karewa land. Now, even though the case has been dismissed, the door remains open to file it again if any steps are taken on the ground,” said Dr. Bhat.
The decision was met with palpable relief among local residents and farmers of the Newa-Parigam belt, who had been deeply concerned about losing their agricultural and horticultural lands. Ghulam Nabi, a farmer from Parigam, said the project would have disrupted livelihoods and endangered the region’s biodiversity.
“We are happy the government has decided not to go ahead with the construction. We have small landholdings and depend on this land for our survival. Any acquisition would have uprooted our lives. Thankfully, the petition filed earlier this year brought the issue to light and prevented any quiet moves by the authorities,” he said.
With the tribunal’s dismissal of the case, the threat to Newa’s fertile karewas may have subsided for now. But the episode serves as a reminder of the importance of civic vigilance in preserving Kashmir’s fragile ecological zones, especially when large-scale development projects are proposed without public consultation or transparent environmental assessments.
