SRINAGAR: Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday wrote a letter to the Union railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw regarding land acquisition for a railway project in the Reshi Pora, Zainapora area of Shopian district.

In the letter, Mufti emphasized the crucial effect of the proposed land acquisition on the local community’s livelihoods, particularly due to the land’s predominant use for apple cultivation, which serves as the primary source of income and sustenance for residents, according to Hindustan Times.

Mufti expressed concern over the potential adverse effects of the land acquisition, emphasising that displacement from their ancestral lands would cause immense hardship to the affected families, who rely on horticulture, agriculture, and allied activities for their livelihoods.

She urged the Railways to consider altering the alignment of the railway line to minimise the impact on the affected communities.