Srinagar, Oct 19 (JKNS): Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the proposed felling of centuries-old Chinar trees, saying Kashmir’s heritage cannot be replaced by planting saplings.
Her remarks came after CM Omar Abdullah stated that mature Chinar trees along the Beehama-Kheer Bhawani and Ganderbal road corridors were causing major traffic bottlenecks amid increasing vehicle numbers and population growth.
In a post on X, as per news agency JKNS, Mehbooba said a Chinar takes generations to attain its full glory, questioning the idea that plantation drives could compensate for the loss of centuries-old trees.
“A Chinar takes generations to reach its glory yet Omar Abdullah thinks saplings can compensate for felling these centuries old icons of Kashmir. You cannot replace centuries of heritage with a plantation drive!” she wrote.
Drawing a comparison with the controversy surrounding Kashmiri Toosh shawls, Mehbooba alleged that Omar Abdullah, during his tenure as Commerce Minister in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, was associated with the ban on the world-famous Kashmiri shawls.
“The irony is staggering. Omar as Commerce Minister in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre was associated with the ban on world famous Kashmiri Toosh shawls. Now our Chinars face the axe. First a blow to Kashmir’s woven heritage now a threat to its living heritage,” she said.
Mehbooba further asserted that Kashmir’s cultural and natural heritage must be protected, adding that the region could not be dismantled “one tradition and one tree at a time.”
Earlier, CM Omar Abdullah maintained that there was no practical alternative left but to remove the trees obstructing the roads. He proposed planting eight to ten replacement Chinar trees at safer alternative locations away from the main road.
The remarks have drawn criticism from environmental groups, including the Environmental Policy Group (EPG), which urged the government to explore alternative road alignments and design modifications before cutting down the heritage trees.
Omar had noted that public outcry often came from individuals and outside groups unfamiliar with the local transportation challenges faced by people in Ganderbal. (JKNS)