Govt to cut chinar tree to restore HMV traffic on Uri’s Garkote road

Uri, July 23: Authorities have decided to axe a 100-year-old chinar tree at the Lagama area of Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla to facilitate the heavy vehicular movement (HVM) on the Lagama-Garkote road.

The road has been closed for heavy vehicles for more than three months due to a portion getting washed away by the landslides triggered by heavy rains in the Lagama area.

With Greater Kashmir (GK) doing multiple stories over the closure of Lagama-Garkote road for the HMV, district administration Baramulla on Tuesday swung into action and ordered the cutting of the chinar tree for its widening. GK had earlier also reported about locals demanding the axing of this chinar tree and the building of protection walls near the site.

The closure of the road for HMV has been giving a tough time to the residents, especially the students community.

An order issued by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Baramulla, a copy of which is with Greater Kashmir, reads, “In pursuance of the provisions of Section-36 of Land Revenue Act, Samvat, 1996 (XII of 1996) and in terms of SRO-373 of 1981 dated: 20-08-1981 and in view of the report submitted by Tehsildar Uri vide No: The/Uri/OQ/2024/317-18 dated: 28-06-2024, in order to address inconvenience to the residents of village Garkote and Machikrand (due to landslide near the tree), sanction is hereby accorded to the felling down of one Chinar tree standing in Khasra No:74/1 of village Lagama Tehsil Uri recorded as Sarkar in Tehsil Uri subject to the following conditions.”

“That the felling of Chinar tree shall be carried out under the close supervision of Tehsildar Uri after proper identification/verification on spot. That the timber/wood of said Chinar trees, so obtained shall be put to an open auction on the spot by Sub Divisional Magistrate, Uri along with District Floriculture Officer, Baramulla and Tehsildar concerned, and the amount so accrued be remitted into Govt Treasury under M.Head=0029/LR,” it reads.

“That the order shall remain operative for a period of sixty (60) days only. That five saplings of Chinar tree shall be planted by the District Floriculture Officer, in the nearby state land to compensate for the environmental loss, the village Lumberdar and ex-BDC Chairperson Uri shall ensure proper care of the plants/saplings,” it further reads.

“That no contravention shall take under the garb of this order,” the order added.