Jammu/Kishtwar, April 23:
Serious questions are being raised over the alleged misuse of forest land in Kishtwar, where a private contractor is accused of carving out a road through protected areas to facilitate the construction of electricity transmission towers under the 432/132 KV line from Kwar and Keru Hydroelectric Projects in J&K’s Kishtwar District.
The high-profile transmission project, being executed by Sterlite Power, involves the installation of 117 towers to connect power supply to the Trigam Grid Station.
Ground reports indicate that nearly one kilometre of road was constructed using heavy machinery, including a JCB, in the Tersar area on the outskirts of Kishtwar—allegedly without due forest clearance. The road was built specifically to ease access for tower installation, raising serious concerns about environmental violations and regulatory bypassing.
Even more troubling are allegations of a deliberate cover-up, with claims that forest fencing was shifted after the construction to falsely portray the road as lying outside forest jurisdiction. If true, the act points to a calculated attempt to mask illegal encroachment on forest land.
The controversy has erupted just days before the scheduled visit of Javed Ahmed Rana, Minister for Forest & Ecology, putting the spotlight firmly on the functioning of the forest department in the district.
Adding to the gravity of the issue, several road and infrastructure projects across Jammu & Kashmir have remained stalled for years due to pending forest clearances, often citing strict environmental norms. However, the alleged ease with which a road was constructed in this case has raised serious doubts and suspicion of possible favouritism or corruption, with questions being asked whether influential contractors are being selectively allowed to bypass regulations.
Sources claim that this is not an isolated incident, with similar activities reported from multiple tower sites across Kishtwar, allegedly carried out under the nose of senior forest officials. The silence of the authorities has drawn sharp criticism, particularly at a time when public projects continue to face procedural hurdles.
Compounding the issue are long-standing allegations of unchecked green felling in the Chenab Valley, where action has often been limited to temporary suspensions or cosmetic inquiries, with officials later reinstated—raising doubts over the department’s commitment to accountability.
With mounting evidence and public concern, demands are growing for a time-bound, independent probe to establish responsibility and take strict action against those found complicit. The issue is likely to test the government’s resolve on environmental protection as well as administrative transparency.
