Save Chinars, Kashmir’s living heritage
Known for their unmatched beauty, Chinars hold immense religious, cultural and environmental importance in Kashmir.
In every season, Chinars change hues and colours but there is no change in its exuberance. However, official apathy and public greed have not even spared this majestic tree which takes decades to grow.
Chinars are battling for survival in Kashmir due to anthropogenic pressures coupled with unplanned development. Origin of Chinars in Kashmir dates back to centuries ago when Islamic preachers travelled to Kashmir from Central Asia. As per historians, chinar was brought from Hamdan area in Iran to Kashmir by Islamic preachers, Mir Syed Ali Hamdani (RA) and Syed Qasim Shah Hamdani.
Oldest Chinar, over 600 years old, in Kashmir exists near a masjid at Chattergam in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Chinars flourished during the Mughal rule in Kashmir. Chinar, meaning flame, was given its name by Mughal emperor Jehangir. Mughals treated chinars like royal trees and decorated Mughal Gardens with these majestic trees. Mughals planted more than 1100 Chinars at Naseem bagh on the banks of Dal Lake besides Bijbehara, Budgam, Kokernag and Anantnag.
Some of the remaining chinars are still present at these places. Dogra rulers too were serious for conservation of Chinars and banned its felling. They had declared Chinars as government property.
With increasing developmental activities especially road expansions, Chinars are bearing the brunt across Kashmir. Many chinars were buried in the name of road widening. National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) felled around 75 Chinar trees along the Srinagar-Qazigund Expressway during execution of the project. .
Authorities collected Rs 28.17 lakh by selling these majestic trees. Ironically not even a single chinar sapling was planted on either side of the highway.
It is stated that 42,000 Chinars existed in Kashmir over 50 years ago. As per a census last year by the Forest Research Institute (FRI), 18,000 chinar trees were found in the valley with at least one third of these diseased or damaged. It has warned that these trees may be lost in the next decade.
Former Chief Conservator of Forests, Muhammad Sultan Wadoo in his book ‘The Trees Of Our Heritage’ published in 2007 had stated that there were 17,124 Chinars in Kashmir of which around 746 were chopped every year. In the past nearly two decades, Chinar trees have been removed to make space for infrastructure expansion. Many trees got infected with disease-causing pests and pathogens, reducing the number from over 1100 to less than 700. Many chinars in Srinagar have become dry and are rotting mainly due to construction activities.
Despite being a living heritage and ‘State Tree’, no legal or scientific measures are being taken to
preserve Chinars.
Few years ago, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha too had expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of Chinars.
“This majestic tree is an integral part of the rich culture of Kashmir and has a very special place in every Kashmiris heart. The tree is known for its elegance and exuberance and is a very special attraction for the tourists who visit Jammu and Kashmir. I am happy to note that Kashmir Valley is home to the World’s oldest Chinar tree, which is believed to be 647 years old and is located in Village Chattergam of Budgam District. Many more trees are very old, and it is believed that these heritage trees were planted more than 300 years ago.”
“It is a matter of concern that many mighty Chinar trees have been lost in the past due to various reasons. This calls for not only the conservation and protection of mighty Chinars but also planting of more Chinar trees to compensate for the loss,” the LG had stated.
A ray of hope for conservation of Chinars was when two decayed chinars trees in the iconic “Char Chinar' (four Chinars) Island in the middle of Dal Lake in Srinagar were restored with the transplantation of two grown-up trees. This was the first-of-its-kind transplantation of Chinar trees in Kashmir. Char Chinari Island is believed to have been constructed by Murad Baksh, brother of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
There is a need to ensure sustainable development where felling of trees must be avoided while constructing road or other developmental projects. We need to learn lessons on how trees are saved in other places in the country.
Transplanting trees is a viable option where road expansion or undertaking developmental works is unavoidable and mandatory. Last year, transplantation of 1025 Banyan trees along Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg in Maharashtra was done successfully.
Delhi government has accorded sanction to cut and transplant 6,600 trees for construction of the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) project, also known as the third Ring Road of Delhi. As per the Delhi government’s Transplantation Policy, 80 percent of 6600 trees will be transplanted along the proposed corridor.
Felling of chinars to pave way for road widening is a classic example of how callous authorities are towards preservation of Chinars.
It takes decades for chinar trees to grow and no amount or plantation can compensate for their loss. We are treating Chinars as trees and don’t hesitate to fell and chop them. It is our duty to launch a public campaign to preserve Chinars.
Global experts must be roped in for conservation of Chinars. We have to act as custodians of Chinars and ensure that
we preserve majestic trees, which are our living heritage, for our next generations.
Author is Executive Editor, Greater Kashmir
