SRINAGAR: As many as 14,255 Russian poplar trees have been cut down across seven Kashmir districts during the last three years, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has informed the Legislative Assembly.
The figures were provided by the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment in response to an Un-Starred Question by MLA Mushtaq Guroo.
According to the district-wise data, Baramulla recorded the highest number of trees felled at 9,954, followed by Anantnag with 792, Budgam with 754, Srinagar with 637, Ganderbal with 235 and Kulgam with 235. Pulwama recorded 1,648 trees cut down.
The government said restrictions on the plantation and felling of female Russian poplar trees had followed directions issued by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in May 2015 over public health concerns linked to airborne cotton-like fluff.
The blanket felling order was subsequently stayed by the High Court on April 10, 2020, after ecological and economic concerns were raised by experts.
Following directions in a public interest litigation, the government constituted a committee headed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests through Government Order No. 470-JK(GAD) of 2020, dated April 14, 2020, to examine health concerns associated with poplar fluff and the need to fell female poplar trees.
The committee, after examining scientific reports and expert opinions, concluded that there was no established scientific link between poplar pollen and allergies or asthma. It, however, observed that the cotton-like fluff could carry dust, fungal spores and pollen, causing nuisance in densely populated areas.
In view of the ecological and economic importance of poplars, the committee recommended phased removal of female trees and promotion of male, cotton-free poplar clones among farmers.
The government said the Forest Department, through its Social Forestry wing, was removing mature departmental poplar trees through auction in a phased manner, while the Revenue Department was also removing trees in compliance with the High Court’s directions.
