Threats of poplar trees to people across Kashmir don’t only trigger fears of summer time respiratory ailments but they are also a threat to houses and commercial complexes on several highways and link roads across Kashmir. The gusty winds amid heavy showers this week not only damaged residential houses but also resulted in four civilian deaths. In view of the fears of the felling of such poplars by gusty winds during incessant rains due to their decaying condition the government had ordered mass cutting of such trees on highways and roads connecting towns with villages long back but during last two years of pandemic the government did not launch any drive for mass cutting of these female poplar trees locally called “ Roosi Phras (Russian Poplars)” . These female poplar trees were not felled despite the fact that fear of ‘pollens’ locally called “ poplar cotton” intensifying covid-19 respiratory infections had panicked the people across Kashmir. J&K Government has in an order on April 2,2020 ordered ‘lopping and felling’ of 42,000 female poplar trees planted by the government’s social forestry department but mass cutting of such female poplar trees was not launched even in a single area of Kashmir valley. Keeping in view the fears of respiratory infections caused by the “Pollen” locally called “Cotton” falling from these female poplar trees locally called “ Roosi Phras” and threat of felling of such trees on both residential and commercial structures on highways and link roads by gusty winds the government could have at least chopped off branches or cut down whole trees before the flowering season in April and May months this year also.
Though Jammu & Kashmir High Court had on a public interest litigation (PIL) in the year 2014 directed the J&K government to ban female poplar trees but even the said high court order was not implemented by the concerned government departments. In view of the huge damage caused to the standing structures and moving vehicles the felling of these poplar trees locally called “Roosi Phras (Rusian Poplars)” as once more promised by the government should not take it more than a fortnight.
It is in this season that the trees start releasing their fluffy seeds enveloped in a cotton-like blanket, confused as pollens. Though no scientific study has proved it that female poplars locally called “Roosi Phras (Russian Polars)” are responsible for causing major allergies and respiratory infections in Kashmir valley but the fact remains that people get respiratory infections by the “Pollen” locally called “Cotton” falling from these female poplar trees from March month till mid-summer months year after year. Though Jammu & Kashmir High Court had on a public interest litigation (PIL) in the year 2014 directed the J&K government to ban female poplar trees but even the said high court order was not implemented by the concerned government departments. In view of the huge damage caused to the standing structures and moving vehicles the felling of these poplar trees locally called “Roosi Phras (Rusian Poplars)” as once more promised by the government should not take it more than a fortnight.
