Srinagar, June 26: Senior Forest official OP Sharma aka Vidyarthi on Sunday dedicated the 36th  episode of his popular Tree Talk program in the memory of Dr Sir Muhammad Iqbal (RA).
 “He is fondly remembered as Allama Iqbal and this City garden is aptly named after the great scholar, poet and philosopher who even gave Tarana-e Hind: Sare Jahan Se Achha…,” Sharma said at the start of the weekly program at Dr Sir Muhammad Iqbal Park at Hazuri Bagh.
 The Tree Talk made the local participants nostalgic of the yesteryears when annual Dussera was celebrated in the park.
 Veteran footballer Abdul Majeed Kakroo said the people would enjoy watching the celebrations. His gaming colleague and District Forest Officer Zamir Ahmed Thakur appreciated that the park had been given a facelift.
 Prof of Botany, Yash Pal in his address said the Chinar trees once a proud heritage of Kashmir were “not in good health at some locations.”
 He held road widening and macadamization at the base of trees as major factors of damage to the trees.
 Nazir Benazir an environmentalist and member Forest Advisory Committee ( FCA ) expressed concern over “growing deforestation”.
 Shogufta Mushtaq from Wadoora College related damage to native flora due to “mindless introduction of exotics” while Prof Haqeekat Singh from Amar Singh College said that “all plants native or introduced have one or the other therapeutic value.”
 The host, O P Sharma senior spoke about the importance of various plants in the park.
 Last week the Tree Talk was held in Rafiabad forest amid a rousing welcome by the locals.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 26 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 26 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST