Official ‘penalized’ for axing Russian poplars

Ruffled over axing of hundreds of Russian poplar trees by the authorities in Wagoora area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, some miscreants last night chopped 15 apple trees in the orchard of one of the members of the team constituted to axe the poplars.

Farooq Ahmad Dar, a resident of Vizer Wagoora, who works in tehsil office Wagoora, was shocked on Wednesday morning when he saw apple trees in his orchards at Vizer chopped down.

“The loss has stunned me. I want authorities should take strong action against the persons involved in the incident,” said Farooq Ahmad Dar.

Following the incident, the drive of chopping Russian poplar trees in Wagoora area came to a halt on Wednesday as the members of the team demanded stern action against the persons involved in the incident.

The J&K High Court has ordered axing of all Russain poplars citing the ill-effects of their pollen on the people.

Tehsildar Wagoora, while talking to us, said, “We have informed police about the incident and a strong action will be taken against the persons involved. We are following court orders and these incidents won’t deter our resolve to chop down Russian poplars.”

Meanwhile the drive against Russian poplar trees continued in different parts of the district. More than one thousand trees were axed in tehsil Baramulla by a team headed by tehsildar Baramulla.

Talking to us, tehsildar Baramulla Nazir Ahmad said the drive will continue. “Following court orders, we have initiated a drive against Russian poplars and have so far axed more than 1000 such trees.”