Despite High Court orders to axe the Russian poplars across valley, district administration in Summer Capital Srinagar has failed to axe the banned poplar trees.
Shedding of harmful pollen is causing inconveniences and infections in many areas of city.
Due to failure of administration to cut down the poplar trees and its plantation, residents around these trees are facing severe health problems.
Russian poplars are shedding harmful pollen which has become a source of inconveniences and people are suffering from infections and allergies.
The parents of school going children have expressed serious concern over the rising infections and allergies due to pollen dust.
“This pollen problem has engulfed many areas where the Russian poplars have been planted. The school going children are the worst sufferers by it who develop complications due to this pollen dust,” Ghulam Mohammad a parent from Lal Mandi told Kashmir POST.
Authorities must take this issue seriously and implement High Court orders to stem the rising rate of allergy and infection, he added.
Last year the High Court had issued orders and asked the administration across valley to cut down the Russian poplar trees, but little seems to be implemented on ground in Srinagar district. The problem is worsening in these days as these poplars are in full bloom with pollen dust.
Residents from Soura area of the city complained that the District administration has failed to axe the Russian poplars. Official apathy has evoked immense resentment from the residents here.
“A decade before people here planted the Russian poplars, but even after passing of ten years district administration has failed to cut down the poplars,” Soura residents said.
From Hyder colony to Upper Soura a large number of trees are seen on the road side and around it seems blanket of pollen dust.
“We requested the owners of these poplars verbally but they are mute over it,” angry residents added.
They also said that they requested district administration a number of times but all proved to be hoax. They have failed to axe the popular trees here which may become a menace in future.
“We also asked the owners of these popular trees to axe them. But they pay less attention to the health of others. Owners of these popular trees get furious when we ask them,” they said.
Residents from several other areas of city also questioned that if Hon’ble High Court has ordered banning the plantation of Russian poplars and asked to axe the poplars, then why poplars are seen everywhere, why district administration is not monitoring and cutting down these trees.
Amid the orders Russian poplars are still seen in the open in other areas of Srinagar like; Harwan, Nishat, Batamaloo, Sonwar, Panderathan and along Bulward road thus increasing the chances of infections and allergies especially for children and old age.
Suhail Bhat a student from Harwan said that it has increased health risks. “We have to wear masks and keep ourselves away from the pollen infections which is emanating from the Russian poplars.”
According to doctors, due to falling of pollen and seeds emanating from Russian poplars the chances of throat infections and breathing problems are high. These trees are allergenic and may cause health problems.
Presence of pollen in air and around the residential houses has forced many people to keep their children confined to indoors. Pollen is everywhere and has affected the residents from many areas of city.
Pertinently on Thursday, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon directed all the deputy commissioners of the valley for the removal of such trees across son war footing basis.
He has received latest update from the Deputy Commissioners of various districts through video conferencing about the numbers of Russian Poplars present in their jurisdiction and steps being taken to remove them.
Despite Court orders, admin ‘fails’ to axe Russian poplars in city
