By Sadat Khan, Agence India Press,
Srinagar: Renowned Chinar trees that boast attraction of millions of tourists to watch in excess of years in Kashmir valley are nowadays facing challenge for their survival.
Environment of Kashmir, which has been witnessing destructive behavior taking place all around much to its loss, must be feeling yet more depressing as Chinars are slowly getting exposed to threats.
Initially brought into Kashmir in the early 16th century by Mughals, the Chinar trees became the part of inheritance in the valley and an ultimate delight to watch by all. Tourists have chronicled Chinar’s as the magic of Kashmir.
Miserably, nowadays people believe it is now administration intervention that can save these rare trees, locally known as ‘Boin’ in the valley.
“The people should be given an order not to cut the trees as it is symbol of both Kashmir and the Mughals. Administration should spread awareness through TV and radio for the preservation of the trees. Kashmir’s beauty gets enhanced due to the existence of these trees,” Dr. Maqsood Hussain Khan told Agence India Press.
G.S. Naqash, Director of Floriculture Department said that the reason for the decline is due to development which has been taking place in the valley. Many Chinar trees were chopped down during last 20 years of turmoil.
“Since last year, we have started” Chinar Plantation Day” on March 15. We have selected the places and roads where there is no shadow to plant them. And every year March 15 will be observed as “Chinar Plantation Day”. Chinar plants will also be distributed to the local people free of cost. Here Chinar plants is considered as the pride of Kashmir,” G.S. Naqash added.
Experts said construction work around the Chinar trees has made their roots weak.
More than 70 per cent of Chinar’s are in a neglected state due to unpaid attention of the multiplicity authorities.
Experts also said that these riches of heritage and environment-friendly trees may face complete extermination in the coming years if immediate measures are not taken for their preservation and survival.
According to earlier census of Chinar development department, more than 4000 Chinar’s survive currently in Kashmir counting two oldest Chinar trees at Darah Shaku- Bijbihara and Chitrgam-Budgam which are believed to be more than 600-years and 250 years old respectively.
Separately as of having immense heritage and visual value, Chinar’s are considered extremely friendly to the environment since they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen hundreds of times more than other plants and trees. ‘Chinar trees are best for environment and contribute by increasing humidity as more transpiration takes place because of them given their leaf surface’, Dr. Aroosa Dijoo said.
“A committee should be constituted in this relation which should have representation from the government, environment sector, floriculture, revenue, society and other related sections, a committee which should be formed by the government which would provide guidelines. That is a must,” she said and added that more than 70 per cent of the Chinar trees in Kashmir are in a neglected state.