NGT Dismisses Plea Against Proposed NIT Pulwama Campus as ‘Premature’; Newa Belt Celebrates

SRINAGAR: Hundreds of families living in the Qariwa Ranbirpora–Newa belt of Pulwama breathed a sigh of relief on Friday after the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar and the Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that no land had been acquired for setting up a new NIT campus in the area. The statements came in response to a petition filed by environmental activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, who had alleged that the authorities planned to axe a large number of high-density green trees in the horticultural zone of Newa Karewas for the project.

The NGT’s Principal Bench in New Delhi, headed by Chairperson Justice Prakash Srivastava and Expert Member Dr A Senthil Vel, dismissed the petition as premature after both the NIT Srinagar and the district administration confirmed that neither land had been allotted nor possession taken.

In its affidavit dated July 22, 2025, NIT Srinagar stated, “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 institute also said it remained “fully committed to environmental conservation” and would not undertake any project without requisite environmental clearances and comprehensive due diligence.

Similarly, the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, in a separate affidavit dated July 24, 2025, confirmed that no acquisition had been carried out. Both respondents assured the Tribunal that any future project would comply with environmental and regulatory norms.

After considering these submissions, the NGT concluded that there was no immediate cause of action and dismissed the petition. However, it granted liberty to Dr Bhat to approach the Tribunal again “if any cause of action arises in future,” specifically if land acquisition or tree felling begins in the area.

The order noted, “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.”

Speaking after the verdict, Dr Bhat said he was satisfied that the petition had forced the authorities to step back.

“Yes, I know the petition was premature as no damage had yet taken place, but had I not gone to the NGT, the damage would have been done and then we would only have repented. The notice issued by the NGT earlier this year saved our Karewa land and thousands of trees on 4,500 kanals,” he said.

Local resident Ghulam Nabi from Parigam, Pulwama, echoed the sentiment, “We have very small landholdings, and our livelihood would have been impacted if the government acquired such a huge chunk of agricultural and horticultural land. The biodiversity here is priceless. The NIT and the government backtracked only after the NGT’s notice in March this year.”

The dispute traces back to early 2025, when reports surfaced that the Union Territory authorities were exploring land in Pulwama’s Newa Karewas for an additional NIT Srinagar campus. The Karewas, unique elevated tablelands, are prized for horticulture, particularly apple and almond orchards, and are ecologically sensitive. Dr Bhat’s petition alleged that setting up the campus would lead to large-scale tree felling and irreversible damage to the local environment.