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| Chinar, heritage symbol of Kashmir fast losing its existence | | | Mudasir Tariq
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Feb 8: Chinar, the heritage symbol of Kashmir valley is fast on decline. Unregulated chopping coupled with the government failure to check the mischief has led to the fast end of these heritage trees.
Once spread all across the valley, the number of these trees have considerably minimized owing to the continuous chopping. Experts believe that if the present trend of chopping continues, the day is not far-off when the tree will be discussed only in the folklores of Kashmir.
While going through a census record conducted by Chinar Development Authority by the department of Floriculture only 19,897 Chinars were left in the Valley by 2005 from 42,000 in 1970. Rough estimates reveal that there are only about 2500 Chinar trees now left in Kashmir valley.
"All these precious trees are vanishing fast from our valley. These trees are considered to be the best for cleaning up the environment and contribute a lot by increasing humidity and major contribution of oxygen production takes place because of them. If their destruction continues with the same pace, it will certainly have adverse effects on our environment," said Javid Ahmad, a lecturer of Botany.
The unwise destruction of the Chinar trees is attributed to the developmental works, which require cutting down these trees for construction works and also for road widening.
"Most of the Chinars were chopped down in the development process like road widening and digging of the soil used for construction work. Thousands of Chinar trees were present along the roadsides which were chopped swiftly," said Mohammad Assadullah, a resident of Hazratbal.
Even though the authorities organize plantation drives every year, but there has been a slow progress to stop chopping of Chinar trees, the authorities put the blame on the masses who despite having all the knowledge are not cooperating.
"Since 2009 we have started Chinar plantation day on March 15. We have selected the places and roads where there is no shadow to plant them. Every year March 15 is observed as Chinar Plantation Day, but the problem is that the masses are not cooperating," said an official of floriculture department.
While on one side the so called plantation drive is moving at snail's pace, on the other hand there is an unprecedented chopping of Chinar trees going on, the unavailability of appropriate laws and lack of mass awareness is also said to be the cause of fast decline these precious trees.
"Government should have imposed ban on chopping these trees and laws should have been framed. Unfortunately a horrific end of this heritage is in its place and we are watching like mere spectators," said Nazir Ahmad Malla, an environmentalist.
Statistics indicate that more than 70 per cent of Chinars are in a neglected state. There are trees in the valley which are as old as 600 years, they are now weathering away and need proper maintenance. |
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