Jammu and Kashmir administration has permitted the axing of scores of Walnut trees in three districts of the region that according to them poses threat to life and property, despite a demand for organic walnuts of Kashmir.
According to the official figures, the axing of nearly two dozen walnut trees was permitted by the Assistant Commissioner of Central Kashmir in the first week of January.
The official figures reveal that the authorities in district Shopian have permitted axing of twenty walnut trees followed by the district Ganderbal and Kulgam with one walnut tree respectively.
One of the government orders in this regard reads, “ In pursuance of the provisions of Section 5, of Jammu and Kashmir Preservation of Specified Trees Act, 1969, the applicants of Saidapora Bala Tehsil and District Shopian is permitted to fell down twenty walnut trees (Specified Tree) which are posing threat to life and property falling under Survey, situated in village Saidapora Bala Tehsil and District Shopian.”
The similar orders have been issued for district Ganderbal and Kulgam respectively.
Earlier, in the year 2021 axing of at least 27 walnut trees were permitted in order to pay a way for the corridor of 220KV Mir Bazar Wagoora transmission line at nine villages of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district—(KNO)