Russian poplar species a public nuisance: HC

Observing that poplars of Russian species are public nuisance, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has sought compliance of its orders on their chopping in Kashmir.

“All the Deputy Commissioners of the valley, at the first instance, are required to file the compliance report by or before May 20, 2016,” a bench of Justice Muhammad Yaqoob Mir said in its order.
“Enormous plantation and growth of poplar trees of Russian Species are allegedly proving catastrophic and a big health hazard. Can such a nuisance be allowed to exist totally to the discomfort of the human beings? Answer has to be no,” the bench observed, while seeking compliance of its earlier orders on cutting of Russian species Poplars in Kashmir.
The court observed that the “trees which are proving dangerous and threat to the healthy life can be categorized as being public nuisance.”
“People are voicing concern against the violent and allergic affects of poplar seeds as the cottony pollen has created panic and has made the living of human beings, more particularly of the elders and the children uncomfortable,” the bench said and added that due to alleged pollen allergy all the elderly people and children are coughing.
Underscoring their potential threat to human health, the court in its order of May 12, 2015 had directed all Deputy Commissioners to issue appropriate orders for immediate removal of poplar trees of Russian species from across the Valley.
The Court had said that Tehsildars of all the Tehsils would be personally responsible for ensuring the compliance of the orders which would be issued by all the Deputy Commissioners of the Kashmir Valley.
On June 5, 2015, the Court had again directed Deputy Commissioners of the Valley and Tehsildars concerned to implement the order dated 12-05-2015 without any further delay.
The Court had also asked its Registry to seek report from Director SKIMS, Director Health Services Kashmir and Principal Government Medical College Srinagar about the approximate number of patients being treated for the disease afflicted by the pollen seed of Russian species Poplar trees.