Iconic Poplars Axed to Death?

At a time when International Day of Forests was being commemorated in Srinagar’s SKICC on March 21^st 2024, with Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary Forests having been invited to the event, hundreds of green poplar trees were axed to death in Amar Singh College Srinagar campus on the same day. More than 200 poplar trees along with some willows were cut down on the request of College authorities as these trees were “posing threat” to students and local residents.

As the news about axing of these trees spread through social media, it sparked anger among the public spirited citizens. The green tree line that was quite visible in summer months in the Amar Singh College campus had become the identity of this historic institution. Former Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattoo while expressing grief on this wrote on social networking site X:

“The person who has taken this decision is extremely ill suited to be involved even remotely with an educational institution. What an absolutely sad spectacle. Tragic!,”

Facebook, Instagram and X were flooded with videos, photos and posts regarding this incident. The matter was widely carried by national and local media as well (both print and electronic). This prompted the Amar Singh College Principal to come up with a detailed statement on March 22^nd 2024. The statement said:

“Recently tree auction was conducted by the Forest Development Corporation in Amar Singh College and consequent upon that cutting of Willow / Robina and Poplar trees was done under due process of law. Several people expressed their concern regarding the axing of a green avenue of college on social media. The college administration came across a lot of lapses and misinformation circulating on the social media regarding the issue. Therefore, we deem it our responsibility to clarify the matter in public interest.

During 2014 floods in Kashmir the institution remained immersed in water for a long duration of time. The deluge not only damaged the infrastructure but also weekend the trees. The trees started uprooting in minor windstorms, causing damage to the surrounding structures and began to pose grave safety concerns for the students, visitors and staff. Several grievances regarding safety and health concerns were received by the college administration during this period and are well documented in the college records.

These complaints underscored the urgent need for the administration to address the safety challenges posed by the poplar trees. The matter was taken up with Social Forestry Department in 2018-19 by then college authorities and the trees were numbered by the concerned department and put to auction by the J&K State Forest Corporation vide an Open Auction Notice No. 499-510/CGM/N/SFC/S, Dated: 29/05/2019.

This notice issued by General Manager North J&K Forest Corporation sought bids for the cutting of 202 poplar trees within the campus. The notice listed 15 locations for auction and Amar Singh College figured as 10th location in said open auction bid list. The bidding process was hampered due to lockdown and subsequent restrictions during Covid-19 Pandemic.

With the postponement of the process, the aged and weakened trees within the Amar Singh College campus continued to pose grave safety threats. Over the last few years, the campus witnessed a number of instances where trees got uprooted, highlighting the persistent danger they posed to the safety and well-being of the college community.”

Transplantation of trees

The canopy of tall green poplar trees at the entrance of Amar Singh College Srinagar used to guide the visitors towards the heritage building which is more than 100 year old. One can understand that some trees had become too old and had almost decayed but how many such trees were in the campus? I don’t think more than 20 trees had decayed.

What was the urgency to axe all the 202 poplar trees? Regarding willow trees that caused threat to some residential houses, the same could have been pruned or partially looped? Nowadays there is a technique to transplant even 100 year old trees and this has successfully worked in many states. Two years back a 30 year old Chinar tree was removed from Foreshore road Srinagar and transplanted successfully at Char Chinar island in Dal Lake by the Forest Department. Had Amar Singh College management along with Forest Corporation been really serious about these iconic trees they could also have been replanted at different locations in the campus, or some other places in Srinagar city.

Conclusion

During the last few years thousands of chinar, walnut, poplar and other trees have been felled down in Kashmir during construction of highways, railways and road widening. Chinar, Popular and Willow trees are the identity of Kashmir. The NHAI provided details of axed trees under the Right to Information Act (RTI) some months back.

t was heart wrenching to see beautiful young chinars having been axed on Srinagar Baramulla road at Singhpora some weeks back. Even a heritage building on the main road at Singhpora Pattan had been bulldozed? Similarly for construction of Srinagar Ring Road thousands of apple and plum trees were axed 3 years back which could have been transplanted, but farmers were not given that option and without their consent almost 10,00 apple, plum and other trees were axed in Budgam district alone in 2021.

In fact, I raised that issue with the Supreme Court of India as the Govt didn't take any action. I will not hesitate to take up Amar Singh College tree axing issue with SC, or would seek intervention of the National Green Tribunal-NGT at an earliest. It seems we have lost human ethos and respect for nature.

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat is an Acumen Fellow. He is also Anant Fellow for Climate Action , Anant National University Ahmedabad.