KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
A day after the Jammu and Kashmir High Court directed all Deputy Commissioners to chop Russian species Poplar trees, the government Sunday said the process has already been started, but it will take time.
“We are already in the process but one needs to understand that as the Russian poplars grow all over the Kashmir and it will take time to chop up all the poplars,” PDP senior leader and R&B minister Syed Altaf Bukhari told KNS.
The government has already directed all the Deputy Commissioners to chop Russian species popular trees across the Kashmir. “We are on it. Earlier the government had asked the people to chop the trees at their own but what we saw the people are not willing to cut the poplars. Now, if need arises the government will chop the trees on its own,” he said.
Hearing an application by one Ghulam Muhammad Bazaz of Amada Kadal here, seeking direction for removal of Poplar trees near his house, a bench of Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey directed Deputy Commissioners and Tehsildars concerned to implement the court order dated May 12, 2015 on chopping Poplar trees without any delay.
In its order of May 5, the High Court had said that Tehsildars concerned would be personally responsible for ensuring compliance of orders passed by the Deputy Commissioners with regard to removal of the Poplars of Russian species across Kashmir.
