By Sameer Ahmad
Anantnag (NVI): In contrast to the ongoing green drive in J&K, miscreants in south Kashmir have been brazenly indulging in large-scale cutting of certain species of trees, including those of walnut, despite a total ban under the law.
According to sources, miscreants took advantage of the unrest in the wake of August 5 abrogation of special status to J&K and in a brazen violation of law, chopped off hundreds of standing Walnut trees in several villages of Anantnag district including Dehruna, Larkipora, Kreedi and other villages of Dooru area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
The chopping down of certain species of tress including Walnut, Mulberry and Chinar is a punishable offence under Preservation of Specified Trees Act 1969 in J&K.
Sources said the residents of these villages break this law with impunity and have chopped hundreds of walnut trees without any order or authority from officials or Divisional commissioner concerned.
The authorities have already passed strict orders and any person found involved in cutting walnut tree can end up in jail with a punishment of six months in jail.
Thousands of families are engaged in walnut business in Kashmir and supply it to not only different states of India but across the world.
According to official sources, cutting of walnut trees is a big offence in Kashmir. There is a blanket ban on cutting and felling of walnut trees in Kashmir and for doing so the permission has to be sought from the Divisional Commissioner, who can give such permission in rare cases like if the growth of tree endangers the life or property.
Miscreants took advantage of unrest after the Centre revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, official sources added.
However, local sources said that the practice is going unchecked in many rural areas and in many instances the authorities have turned a blind eye to it.
Meanwhile talking to “News Vibes of India,” SDM Dooru Ghulam Rasool said that he has no concrete information about the cutting of walnut trees. “I will check the facts and accordingly take action against the miscreants,” he said.
