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| KU’s Chinar Preservation? | | 2 majestic trees fall to make way for canteen | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 21: Exactly a week after the Kashmir University authorities announced an ambitious project of developing Naseem Bagh campus as a Chinar Heritage Park, two majestic Chinars fell today to make way for a canteen and accommodation for teachers.
The felling, eyewitnesses said, was undertaken early this morning. A few weak voices were raised in protest but the felling continued. The authorities, however, denied felling of Chinars. “We have sought the permission of the divisional commissioner to clip the dead and worn out branches of the Chinars. This is necessary for their preservation. Pruning of old branches also makes the trees beautiful”, the PRO, Showkat Shafi told the scribes.
Government, it has been reliably learnt, has accorded permission to the University on the condition that the pruning of Chinars will only be done on scientific basis “in the interest of conservation and safeguard of all existing Chinars.”
However, no expert was present in the campus today, eyewitnesses said. According to them, ordinary wood cutters used their axes ruthlessly and mercilessly on the Chinars. The government has also made clear that land will not be allowed for any purpose other than the Heritage Park. No activity shall be undertaken in the area, which will hamper the growth of Chinars. The University has also been told to shall follow the Master Plan Srinagar and the Building Permission laws in letter and spirit.
Spanning over 500 kanals of land, Naseem Bagh is dotted by hundreds of Chinars and sprawling lawns. It was constructed by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1586 AD. But with the passage of time and unplanned developmental activities, the Chinars have been deteriorating at a fast pace. Presently, there are 718 Chinars and 696 out of them need scientific management including removal of diseased branches, to increase their life.
On January 13, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Riyaz Punjabi in a bid to `restore the pristine glory of Naseem Bagh unveiled a comprehensive Chinar conservation plan. To begin with the VC announced development of Naseem Bagh as a Chinar Heritage Park and imposed a blanket ban on fresh constructions in the Campus’s eco-fragile zone.
The campus lost much of its glory in 2002 when massive construction was undertaken in the campus. The campus hosts the new law department building, a newly constructed boys hostel and scores of old buildings and barracks.
Punjabi’s ambitious project had evoked appreciation from the civil society. But the felling of Chinars in the campus today has disappointed one and all. A group of students told Early Times that any move aimed at harming the environmentally fragile campus shall be resisted tooth and nail. “There is a nexus between the authorities and the contractors. To make money they will demolish the classrooms as well”, they said.
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