New Delhi August 2 (KNS) Hundreds of families living around Qariwa Ranbirpora Newa Pulwama got a sigh of relief on Friday when National Institute of Technology -NIT as well as Deputy Commissioner Pulwama informed the National Green Tribunal -NGT that they had not acquired any land for setting up new campus of the NIT in Pulwama Qariwa Ranbirpora around Newa.

On the basis of affidavits filed by Director NIT Srinagar and DC Pulwama the NGT’s Principal Bench headed by Justice Prakash Srivastava dismissed the original application filed by activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat on the ground that it was premature as respondents had not acquired the land nor have they axed trees. The NGT’s order however said that applicant (Raja Muzaffar Bhat) is at liberty to to approach the Tribunal, if any cause of action arises in future.

The applicant Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat has approached NGT early this year with the plea that the State Authorities were planning to cut a large number of green trees of various species standing in the horticultural zone of Newa in the Qariwa-Ranbirpura in District Pulwama of Jammu & Kashmir for setting up of a new NIT campus in Pulwama.

Considering the grievance raised by the Applicant, the Tribunal by the order dated 01.04.2025 had issued notice to the respondents- NIT Srinagar, DC Pulwama and others and had also directed the Respondent No. 5 (Director NIT) to disclose the entire plan of construction of NIT Campus and number of trees which are proposed to be cut in the process of the construction.

The respondent No. 5, NIT Srinagar filed the response by stating that no land has been allotted, transferred or handed over to NIT Srinagar in Newa Karewas and NIT, Srinagar was currently operating in a small campus with approximately 67 acres around Hazratbal area of Srinagar.

The reply reveals that the Respondent No. 5-NIT Srinagar is making efforts for allotment of land, but no such allotment has been made till now” reads the affidavit filed by NIT Srinagar before NGT

“That 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 Respondent No. 2, Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama also filed the reply along with an affidavit dated 24.07.2025 taking the same stand as taken by the NIT Srinagar.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe NIT in its reply has clearly stated that the project, if any, will be undertaken with all requisite permissions. The same reads as :

“That even otherwise, the Respondent Institute-NIT Srinagar remains fully committed to environmental conservation and will not undertake any project without the requisite environmental clearances. Needless to mention that any site that may ultimately be selected for the establishment of an additional campus shall be subject to comprehensive due diligence, and full compliance with applicable environmental and regulatory norms.”

As both parties clearly said that they had not acquired the land nor had they chopped off any trees the NGT said that application was premature and hence dismissed the same but the NGT clearly mentioned in the order that applicant could approach the tribunal if the NIT Srinagar or DC Pulwama takes up any construction work or starts cutting down the trees in Newa Qariwa Ranbirpora area of Pulwama. The order passed by Justice Prakash Srivastava -Chairman NGT and Dr Senthil Veil -Expert Member reads

“Having regard to the above, we are of the view that the OA at this stage is pre-mature. Hence, it is dismissed, however, with the liberty to the Applicant to approach the Tribunal, if any cause of action arises in future “

" The NIT Srinagar and Govt would have gone ahead with axing of trees for setting up NIT campus in Pulwama karewas . Yes i know the petition was premature as no damage to the trees had taken place but had i not gone to the NGT the damage would have been caused and then we would only had to repent . I am grateful NGT admitted my application and issued a notice some months back which saved our Karewa land and thousands of trees on 4500 kanals of land. As the petition has been dismissed now because Govt came on backfoot , we have a door open to file case if any steps are taken to axe the trees of acquire the land for NIT Srinagar campus" said Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

" We are happy that the Govt has decided not to go ahead with the construction of NIT Srinagar campus in Pulwama area . We have very small landholdings and our livelihood would get impacted if the Govt acquires a huge chunk of agriculture and horticulture land plus this would impact biodiversity as well. Had the petition not been moved early this year things would have been altogether different. The NIT & Govt backtracked only after NGT's notice issued in March this year" said Ghulam Nabi a local resident of Parigam Pulwama(KNS)