Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 12: At least eight poplar trees have been axed along the National Highway in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
The trees were cut down by a commercial complex owner near Government Degree College, Baramulla to pave way for the complex.
The trees were allegedly axed in broad daylight by the owner of the complex and authorities acted as mute spectators.
The residents of the area said that they have been approaching authorities for last five years to cut down some of the trees near the residential houses as there were apprehensions of falling of the trees on the houses but they were told that there is complete ban on the cutting of trees along the highway.
“We approached the authorities regarding the cutting of trees as the branches used to fell on roof of the houses during strong winds but they told us that there is ban on cutting of trees. Now, we were surprised to see several trees being axed for a commercial complex that is coming up on the highway. If there is a ban on cutting of trees, who gave permission to the complex owner to cut the trees? There are rules for poor people and not for influential persons,” a local resident said.
Abdul Rashid Lone, Executive Engineer, Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department said that the trees have been axed legally with proper permission from the Deputy Commissioner of the district. “All the trees will be axed sooner or later as they are becoming nuisance for the people. The department has auctioned the trees few months back and now they were being axed with due permission. The owner of the complex has applied for the cutting of trees five months back and the case was cleared and the trees were axed. The other cases will be soon cleared also,” he said.
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