SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said mature chinar trees were coming in the way of road-widening work in Ganderbal, maintaining that they would have to be removed and replanted at other locations to enable the work to proceed.
He said attempts to cut down the trees often triggered protests, including from people unfamiliar with the area.
“Whenever the authorities start cutting them, people who cannot even find Ganderbal on the map start raising a hue and cry,” Abdullah said.
His remarks highlight the challenge of improving road infrastructure while preserving Kashmir’s iconic chinar trees.
Referring to the Beehama–Kheer Bhawani road, Abdullah suggested that eight to 10 chinar trees could be planted at alternative sites away from roads to address the obstruction to vehicle movement while allowing development work to continue.
