Amid a public outcry over spreading allergies among residents, the district administration of Ganderbal has ordered immediate removal of female species of Russian poplars in compliance with an earlier order of the state High Court.
The order followed repeated requests by many residents tohave the banned poplars cut in order to arrest spread of allergies by itspollen which flies into the air like small balls of cotton.
“The female Russian poplars (Populous deltoids) posegreat threat to the environment of Jammu and Kashmir state and cause problemsto the human health including respiratory diseases and allergies,” reads anorder issued by additional deputy commissioner of Ganderbal.
“In view of the detailed facts there are clear cut ordersfrom the hon’ble High Court of J&K to identify such poplar trees and cutdown the same on war foot basis.”
The order directs Tehsildars of the district to identify thetrees within their durisdictions with help from social forestry officials “cutthem down on immediate basis”.
Additional district development commissioner GanderbalShafqat Iqbal told Greater Kashmir that would be given to cutting the trees inpublic places, schools and hospitals.