Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): In a breather for the people of Kashmir, an expert committee has concluded that the fluff produced by female Russian Poplar trees in the Valley, doesn’t carry Covid-19 virus.
The announcement in this regard has been made in a report prepared by the panel of experts on various subjects that include trees and respiratory medicine. The report has highlighted that it was unlikely that the fluff produced by the poplar trees would carry Covid-19 as the droplet size falls on the ground immediately when one sneezes or coughs.
“The COVID-19 spreads through droplets and its transmission can occur by direct contact with infected persons and indirect contact with surfaces in the immediate environment or objects used on the infected persons. Hence, it is unlikely that the fluff of poplar trees can carry the COVID-19 virus as it is not airborne and the droplet size allows the droplet to fall immediately on the ground,” reads the report of the panel constituted by the J&K High Court, after a petition was filed before it seeking ban and felling of Rusian poplar trees.
The petitioner had cited that growing fluff produced by the poplar trees in the months of May and June in Kashmir, may pose a great risk and threat to the elderly, children and others as it may become a potential carrier of Covid-19 virus.
The committee, headed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Mohit Gera was constituted on April 15 and comprises seven experts on different subjects. It studied the impact from pollen and fluff from poplar trees on human and desirability of felling these trees.
The poplar trees are being cultivated in Kashmir and Ladakh for wood production. According to Forest Survey of India assessment, the estimated turnover of poplar based industrial sector in rural and urban areas of Kashmir is almost Rs 600 crore annually.
The committee also stated that there is no linkage between the allergies/asthma with the pollen or fluff of poplar trees which is also supported by scientific reports available on the subject.
“However, the fluff (cottony seed) acts as a vector for dissemination of various substances present in the atmosphere during this season such as spores of bacteria, fungi, dust particles and pollen of other flowering plants growing in the area,” the report further states.
The committee has come up with a series of recommendations for management of poplar trees in Kashmir. It has recommended phasing out of female poplar trees planted by government departments in vicinity of sensitive places like hospitals, schools, market places within Srinagar Municipal Corporation or other similar cities/towns in the Valley as a precautionary measure.
-ARK
