Srinagar, Feb 25, KNT: In a disturbing environmental violation, dozens of majestic Chinar trees have been illegally felled in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, with authorities allegedly turning a blind eye to the destruction. The chopping down of these majestic trees, despite strict regulations for their preservation, has sparked outrage among locals.
Sources reveal that while authorities granted limited permissions to contractors for pruning branches, many misused the approvals and chopped down entire trees to extract maximum wood. This large-scale felling has been reported from multiple areas, including Rani Bagh, Sarnal, and Kadipora, where the once-thriving Chinar trees now lie in ruins.
Locals have expressed deep concern over the administration’s inaction, questioning why no measures have been taken to curb the illegal felling despite the availability of geo-tagging technology meant to protect these heritage trees. “These trees have stood for centuries, providing shade, beauty, and a crucial ecological balance. But vested interests are axing them in broad daylight, and officials are doing nothing,” a local from Anantnag told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.
The Chinar tree, which holds immense historical and cultural significance in Kashmir, is a protected species under the Jammu and Kashmir Preservation of Specified Trees Act, 1969. Under this law, even pruning requires official permission, yet entire trees are being cut with impunity.
Locals and environmental activists have demanded immediate action, urging the administration to identify and penalize those involved in the illegal felling. They have also called for a thorough probe into how contractors managed to exploit the permissions and why authorities have failed to intervene.
“If the destruction continues unchecked, Anantnag and other parts of Kashmir risk losing a vital part of their natural heritage, further exacerbating environmental degradation in the region,” said an elderly man from Kadipora. [KNT]
