Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the proposed felling of centuries-old Chinar trees along road corridors in Ganderbal, arguing that Kashmir’s cultural and natural heritage cannot be compensated for through plantation drives.
In a post on X, Mehbooba questioned the proposal to remove mature Chinars along the Beehama–Kheer Bhawani and Ganderbal road corridors, saying the trees had taken generations to reach their present stature.
“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.
Mehbooba also linked the controversy to the issue of Kashmiri Toosh shawls, alleging that Omar Abdullah, during his tenure as Union Commerce Minister in the BJP-led NDA government, was associated with the ban on the traditional 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.
The PDP chief added that Kashmir’s heritage should not be dismantled “one tradition and one tree at a time”.
Omar has defended the proposed removal of the trees, citing traffic congestion, increasing vehicle numbers and population growth along the affected road corridors. He has maintained that removing trees obstructing the roads was necessary and proposed planting eight to ten replacement Chinars at safer locations away from the main road.
The proposal has also faced opposition from environmental groups, including the Environmental Policy Group (EPG), which has urged the government to explore alternative road alignments and design modifications before proceeding with the felling.
Omar has also argued that some of the criticism has come from people and groups outside the area who, he said, may not fully understand the transportation difficulties faced by residents of Ganderbal.
The controversy has brought into focus the competing concerns of road connectivity, traffic management, and the preservation of Kashmir’s iconic Chinar trees.
