New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a formal notice to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir over the establishment of a new industrial estate in Trenz village, South Kashmir’s Shopian district, citing serious environmental and flood-related concerns, following a petition filed by environmental activist Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat who alleged that the project site, covering approximately 500 kanals (around 63 acres) of government land, falls within the natural floodplain of the Rambiara River and poses a severe threat to downstream communities, agricultural lands, and apple orchards. During the hearing before the Principal Bench of the NGT, presided over by Justice Prakash Shrivastava along with Expert Members Dr. Afroz Ahmad and Dr. A. Senthil Vel, Senior Advocate Saurabh Sharma, representing the petitioner, highlighted that the industrial estate is located merely 30 metres from the riverbank, directly within the river’s natural floodway, and argued that constructing the estate on one side of the river would effectively encroach upon its natural course, potentially causing widespread flooding and destruction across nearly a dozen downstream villages in Shopian and Pulwama districts, a risk further substantiated by the draft District Disaster Management Plan for Shopian, which identifies that one-third of the district is vulnerable to floods and flash floods, and by the site plan of the J&K State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) showing the estate’s immediate adjacency to the river within the floodplain.
In its fresh order dated February 24, 2026, the NGT noted that counsel for Respondents 1 to 3 requested four weeks to file their reply, which the Tribunal granted, while observing that the affidavit of service filed by the petitioner did not indicate that Respondent No. 4 had been served, and accordingly permitted the petitioner to complete service on Respondent No. 4 and file a fresh affidavit, listing the matter for the next hearing on May 15, 2026, and emphasizing that the petition “raises substantial issues relating to compliance with environmental norms,” while directing the petitioner to serve all respondents and submit the affidavit of service at least one week prior to the next hearing.
The industrial estate project, estimated at Rs 68 crore, had earlier received approval from the Administrative Council headed by the Lieutenant Governor in February 2024, allowing the development of industrial infrastructure on 500 kanals of state land in Trenz, near the Rambiara riverbanks, a location intended to promote industrial growth and local employment but now facing scrutiny due to its position in a flood-prone zone, with experts and the petitioner warning that construction within the river’s natural floodplain could exacerbate flooding during high water flows, endanger lives, and damage agricultural lands and orchards in multiple downstream villages.
The NGT’s intervention underscores the increasing judicial and environmental oversight of developmental projects in ecologically sensitive areas, highlighting the importance of balancing industrial growth with environmental protection, flood mitigation, and the welfare of local communities, and the case is now scheduled for further hearing on May 15, 2026, when the respondents are expected to file detailed replies regarding environmental safeguards and project feasibility.
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