SRINAGAR: The alleged cutting of large branches of two century-old sweet chestnut trees on the University of Kashmir campus has triggered protests from environmental activists, with the Jammu and Kashmir Climate Action Group (JKCAG) demanding an inquiry, accountability and protection of the remaining trees.
The trees, identified as Castanea sativa, are located near the university’s History Department. JKCAG alleged that several large branches of the two heritage trees had been cut by the university administration in the name of pruning, raising concerns over the preservation of Kashmir’s natural and historical heritage.
Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Chairman of JKCAG, said the trees were planted during the reign of Maharaja Hari Singh and formed part of Kashmir’s natural heritage.
According to Bhat, the sweet chestnut trees were introduced to Kashmir around a century ago by Mohammad Rehman Affindi, a friend and Oxford University classmate of Maharaja Hari Singh.
“These sweet chestnut trees are heritage trees which were planted during the period of Maharaja Hari Singh across several places in Kashmir, including the present-day University of Kashmir,” Bhat said.
Responding to criticism on social media, the university administration maintained that the branches had been pruned because the trees posed a threat to the Economics Department building. However, the explanation drew objections from social media users, who questioned whether the extensive removal of branches could be justified as routine pruning.
Bhat alleged that the intervention had prevented the cutting of other sweet chestnut trees but expressed concern over the damage already caused to the two trees near the History Department.
“Cutting down these trees is a serious issue. With our intervention, we stopped the axing of other chestnut trees, but unfortunately, the University of Kashmir calls it ‘pruning’, even though all the huge branches of two chestnut trees near the History Department have been cut down,” he said.
In a statement, JKCAG appealed to the authorities and Karan Singh, son of Maharaja Hari Singh, to intervene in the matter and ensure the protection of the remaining heritage trees.
The organisation also recalled that around 50 similar trees were axed in New Theed area of Harwan in 2020 to facilitate the construction of a power grid station.
The controversy also drew a reaction from Vikramaditya Singh, former Member of the Legislative Council and grandson of Maharaja Hari Singh. Responding to Bhat’s Instagram post, Singh expressed anguish over the reported cutting of the trees.
“This is unacceptable. People responsible for this should be taken to task,” he wrote.
JKCAG has called for accountability and measures to protect the remaining sweet chestnut trees, arguing that trees associated with Kashmir’s history for nearly a century should be recognised and preserved as heritage assets.
