Amid COVID-19 scare Div Com (K) asks DCs’ to enforce complete ban on female Russian poplar species

Srinagar: In compliance to orders passed by the High Court J&K in Public Interest Litigation (PIL) Nos-834/2015, 1637/2015 & 976/2016, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Pandurang K Pole, Friday chaired a meeting to discuss the pollen related infections in wake of already spread of COVID-19 and to work-out the strategy and measures to get rid of this menace before the onset of flowering season across the valley.
The Divisional Commissioner directed all Deputy Commissioners and concerned officers to enforce complete ban on plantation and growing of female Russian poplar trees in private Nurseries in compliance of High Court orders.
He further directed that pruning, lopping of female poplar trees on property land within 500 meters of habitation should be conducted within 10 days and warned of strict action for non compliance.
He said the Social Forestry Corporation should axe all female Russian poplar trees on their lands or at any other locations within one week.
Any species of this variety on State land or Kahcharie land within 500 meters from village (habitation), Basti, should also be felled down within 10 days. He directed the Deputy Commissioners to constitute teams for cutting the trees on state and Khacharie land.
Social Forestry Corporation has been asked to increase the capacities so far as male popular trees are concerned, so that saplings and cuttings of such trees are available to the farmers on reasonable rates.