Peerzada Arshad Hamid

Srinagar

The government’s decision to set up the regional headquarters for paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on the saffron land in Lethpora, despite a ban on using the land for purpose other than saffron cultivation is a blatant violation of norms. The state government has acquired 1100 kanal (137.5 acres) of prized saffron land in the plateaus of Lethpora village - the centre of saffron cultivation - for construction purposes.

The acquisition that has put the government ban on Saffron land in question will have a direct impact on the annual production of Saffron, the world’s costliest spice. So bringing cultivable saffron land under construction will affect the state economy. In 2003-2004, around 6.98 metric tonne of saffron was exported. Likewise 5.19 metric tonne of saffron were exported in 2004-2005. In 2005-06 the production nosedived to 1 metric tonne. Agricultural scientists are perplexed over the government’s decision. They argue that when there is a dire need to preserve the land and intensify practices on modern lines, government’s decision to acquire the land is doubtful. On one hand state government boasts of increasing the agricultural produce, while on the other hand its policies are anti-farmer.

Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz’s agitation asking de-notification of land at Lethapora village is a valid argument. His emphasis on the need to preserve the world famous Kashmir Saffron should be taken seriously by the government. Already over past two decades the army and the paramilitary forces have taken over agriculture land, residential houses and government buildings for the construction of their facilities. The Parliament was informed four years ago that the army and the paramilitary forces together have acquired 41594.77 acres of land in Jammu and Kashmir.

Although the officials from state government try to confuse the matter by saying that farmers have willingly given their land and the identified land is not brought under saffron cultivation. By this they are trying to make fool of themselves and trying to show supremacy over law. Saffron cultivation is among the oldest farming practices in Kashmir. State government in the interest of preserving the state’s heritage should admit the mistake and announce the de-notification of the land. Already in the same village land has been acquired for constructing District Police Lines.