Kashmir’s Chinar Trees at the Crossroads: Mehbooba Mufti Challenges Omar Abdullah Over Ganderbal Road-Widening Plan By: Javid Amin | 19 October 2026 Srinagar: A road may be widened in months. A tree that has stood through generations of Kashmir’s history cannot be replaced in the same time. That is the question at the heart of a growing controversy in Jammu and Kashmir, where Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s remarks about removing mature Chinar trees along road corridors in Ganderbal have drawn sharp criticism from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti.…
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Veeri Calls for High-Level Inquiry into Chinar Tree Felling in Anantnag
MLA Bijbehara Seeks Inquiry into Felling of Chinar Trees in South Kashmir’s Anantnag Srinagar, February 26, 2025 – The felling of 500-year-old Chinar trees in Anantnag’s Rani Bagh has evoked sharp criticism from environmentalists and activists. National Conference MLA from Bijbehara, Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri, has called for an inquiry into the incident. Veeri’s Call for Accountability In a post on X, Veeri stated, “These pictures must be reported to the National Green Tribunal for cognizance & accountability. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag should initiate a high-level inquiry, book…
Read MoreViolation of Conservation Laws: EPG Demands Accountability for Felling of Chinar Trees
EPG Strongly Denounces Felling of Centuries-Old Chinar Trees in Rani Bagh, Anantnag Srinagar, February 26, 2025 – The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has strongly condemned the deeply distressing felling of centuries-old Chinar trees in Rani Bagh, Anantnag. These trees, believed to be over 500 years old, hold immense historical, cultural, and ecological value. Their destruction represents a blatant violation of the laws established to protect such heritage and a grave injustice to the legacy of Kashmir. Historical and Cultural Significance The Chinar trees in Rani Bagh are not just symbols…
Read MoreExploring Autumn in Thomas Moore’s ‘Lalla Rookh’ – A Journey Through Poetry
Embracing Autumn’s Bounty in Kashmir By: Javid Amin As autumn blankets the picturesque region of Kashmir, a season of plenty and preparation unfolds. This season, often referred to as the “queen of all seasons” in Kashmir, brings a multitude of changes and traditions. Harvest Season: Farmers gather grains while nomads descend from highland pastures with their herds of sheep and goats. The landscape undergoes a transformation as chinar leaves turn from yellow to crimson, and grapes, apples, and walnuts ripen. A Season of Plenty: Kashmir’s autumn is marked by a…
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