SRINAGAR, APRIL 3 (KNB): Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Pandurang K Pole, today directed the Social Forestry Corporation to axe all female Russian poplar trees on their lands or at any other locations within one week.
He passed these directions during a meeting to discuss the pollen related infections in wake of already spread of COVID-19 and to work-out the strategy and measures to get rid of this menace before the onset of flowering season across the valley.
The Divisional Commissioner directed all Deputy Commissioners and concerned officers to enforce complete ban on plantation and growing of female Russian poplar trees in private Nurseries in compliance of High Court orders.
Kashmir News Bureau(KNB) reported a news yesterday titled -Amid Covid19 crises, Pollen induced allergy to increase rush in hospitals.
A doctor had told KNB that the problem will get worst in the coming days as hospitals in the valley will witness a sudden and sharp spike in the number of patients with respiratory diseases caused by the pollen and it will overburden the doctors & healthcare system overall.
“This is the right time to cut down all the pollen tress as everyone is locked inside. There would be little or no inconvenience caused by this to the general public.” a senior officer of SMC told KNB.
He further directed that pruning, lopping of female poplar trees on property land within 500 meters of habitation should be conducted within 10 days and warned of strict action for non compliance.
Any species of this variety on State land or Kahcharie land within 500 meters from village (habitation), Basti, should also be felled down within 10 days. He directed the Deputy Commissioners to constitute teams for cutting the trees on state and Khacharie land.
Social Forestry Corporation has been asked to increase the capacities so far as male popular trees are concerned, so that saplings and cuttings of such trees are available to the farmers on reasonable rates.(KNB)