Imran Shah
Kishtwar, (TDD): A decade after the announcement of the Forest Training Institute at Barnoyan, Kishtwar, by then Minister for Forest, Ecology, and Environment Bali Bhagat, the project remains incomplete and non-functional.
Hailed as a milestone for forest conservation and local employment, the institute has now become a symbol of failed promises and administrative neglect.
Local residents express growing frustration over the lack of progress. “We were told this institute would bring jobs and development to our area, but it’s just an abandoned project,” said Bashir Ahmed, a shopkeeper in Lower Pochhal. “Even the approach road is unfinished. This delay has disrupted tourism and crushed local hopes.”
Er. Anil Kumar Shan, an independent candidate from 50-Paddar Nagseni in the 2024 GELA elections, slammed both political leaders and the Forest Department. “This is a clear example of negligence. Crores of public money have been wasted, and the project still hasn’t moved beyond initial construction. The government must act now,” he said. He further appealed for urgent development, adding, “Our youth deserve opportunities, and this institute was supposed to provide that. We cannot wait any longer.”
Environmentalists, too, are concerned. “The Chenab Valley’s forests are under constant threat from illegal activities. This institute could have been instrumental in training officials to protect them,” said Shabnum Jan, a local activist. “Instead, it stands as a monument to broken promises.”
The project’s foundation stone was laid with much fanfare nearly a decade ago, attended by prominent leaders like Sunil Kumar Sharma, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, and Firdous Ahmad Tak. It was intended to complement three existing training institutes in Jammu, Srinagar, and Katra. However, its prolonged delay raises serious doubts about the region’s commitment to sustainable forest management.
“Every year, we hear new promises, but nothing happens,” said Ghulam Nabi, a resident of Kishtwar. “If they can’t complete this project, what hope do we have for other development?”
The people of Kishtwar are calling on the government to prioritize the institute’s completion. Without swift action, the project risks becoming a permanent reminder of unkept promises in the Chenab Valley. Pertinently, there are only three such Institutes in J&K. (TDD)
