‘Hell-Like Situation’: Sonmarg Residents Allege Damage, Pollution from Z-Morh Tunnel Construction
Sonmarg, June 10, KNT: Residents of Shutkadi village, nestled in the scenic lap of Sonmarg in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, staged a protest on Monday against the authorities operating the Z-Morh Tunnel, accusing them of failing to compensate villagers for extensive damage and environmental degradation caused by ongoing construction work since 2015.
The 6.5-kilometre-long Z-Morh tunnel, a strategic infrastructure project linking Sonamarg and Gagangir, is being executed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL)—a fully owned company of the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
Holding placards and shouting slogans, scores of villagers, mostly women, assembled near the tunnel site to highlight their long-standing grievances. “It’s nothing less than a hellish experience for us. Constant blasting has cracked our houses—even those built with reinforced concrete,” said one of the protesting women while speaking to Kashmir News Trust.
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The residents also complained of persistent air and noise pollution, citing hazardous dust levels and the indifference of construction operators. “The dust on the roads is never cleared unless a senior official is expected to visit. They don’t even sprinkle water to suppress it,” said another protester.
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Villagers clarified they are not opposed to the development project but insist that safety and environmental regulations must be followed. “We repeatedly asked for low-intensity blasting, removal of debris, and regular road cleaning. But our requests have fallen on deaf ears,” they lamented.
Adding to their frustration is the unfulfilled promise of compensation, which villagers say was assured by the administration years ago. According to them, the then Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal had recommended compensation, and a committee under the SDM Kangan, comprising officials from Geology and Mining, Revenue, R&B, SDA, and Police, was formed to assess the damages. Yet, three years on, the committee has failed to submit its report.
“We are tired of waiting. If the administration is serious, let the present Deputy Commissioner intervene and deliver justice,” the protesters demanded, calling for immediate compensation and strict adherence to environmental safeguards by the tunnel authorities.
The Z-Morh Tunnel, touted as a lifeline to ensure year-round connectivity to Sonmarg, may serve a strategic purpose—but for the villagers of Shutkadi, its unchecked execution has come at a heavy cost. [KNT]
