Yasmeen Manzoor
Srinagar, April 9(KNB): The order issued by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to cut down all female poplars six days ago has no takers in administration in Aloosa area of Bandipra.
Health experts say the pollen that sheds off from the Russian Poplars trees causes’ influenza, allergies among people around its vicinity and may create unnecessary panic and anxiety in such precarious scenario where people are already preoccupied under the threat of spread of pandemic Covid-19.
A resident of Aloosa said hundreds of Russian poplars in the locality are cause of allergies in the people.
“This time it would create panic situation as some of the symptoms of pollen allergy and Covid19 match,” he said.
He told KNB that they approached the BDO office for implementation of divisional commissioner’s order,
“But they refused to axe them off by saying that it is the domain of social forestry department and have yet to receive any such orders.”
Another resident echoed his views and said, “Since the valley is already suffering from the threat of Covid-19, in such situation if the administration will not cut down the poplar trees, huge rush of people could be soon seen in the hospitals. This is the high time for administration to ponder upon it and take immediate action.”
He further alleged,” The administration of Bandipora is very much active by taking prompt action against the poplar of locals, but when it comes to poplar trees of Government which are almost in hundreds in the locality,no action has been taken yet.”
Despite the order of cutting down of female Russian popular trees issued by the District Panchayat officer Bandipora, viz order number DPO/Bpr/2019-20/002-005, the administration remained unrelented and payed no heed to the order.
Corresponding one more such order to cut down poplar trees which are a reason of unnecessary panic among people as it causes infection and allergies in view of situation arisen due to Covid-19 was issued by chairperson district disaster management Bandipora, viz order number DCB/LC/2020/3230-45 but again the order was not followed.
Meanwhile, when Kashmir News Bureau contacted Block Developmental Officer (BDO) Aloosa, Syed Nasrullah he assured that the trees would be axed soon but when KNB again contacted him after two days- no action was taken and he said that the trees won’t be cut down but definitely will cut down the branches of the trees.
When KNB contacted Deputy Commissioner Shahbaz Mirza, he said, “As per the law the first step is cutting down the branches which is going on in the district. Still we will look into the matter and wherever necessary, the trees will be cut down”.(KNB)
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