Wanton Destruction or Planned Pruning

Zeenat sees a Mahabharta being played out in Hazratbal with University officials behaving as Kaurav brothers

University Destroys Kashmir’s Chinar Heritage

Zeenat Zeeshan Fazil (Kashmir Images)

Srinagar: Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University occupied multiple columns on the front pages of most of the Valley based daily newspapers claiming to develop Naseem Bagh as ‘Chinar Heritage Park’, to protect ‘endangered Chinar trees’ within the campus.

January 21 - Chinar trees in Naseem Bagh were resembling Draupadi whose Wastharran (striping) was done shamelessly by the Karaus of Kashmir University. Scores of Chinar trees within Naseem Bagh Campus have been pruned within past few days and the process goes on, sources said.

The processes of making the trees more ugly by chopping the branches, insiders say, is aimed at erecting a canteen building in the vicinity. “Making claims is one thing and standing by these is different,” said a former president of university students union. “The University authorities are intending to construct a canteen and the branches of the Chinar trees are being pruned to make space for the same,” he said.

However, University Public Relations Officer (PRO), Showkat Shafi says the authorities have sought permission from the Divisional Commissioner to prune the trees for ‘their health.’ “We are cutting dead branches of the tress in order to give them better look and for that we have taken the permission from Divisional Commissioner’s office,” Shafi told Kashmir Images.

But the Valley Citizens Council (VCC) that spearheads the ‘Save Chinar’ campaign is not going to buy Shafi’s statement. “Who has given the permission for pruning,” questioned renowned scholar, satirist and environmental activist, Zareef Ahmad Zareef.

Zareef said that a circular was issued by the Divisional administration, sometime back, ordering formation of a committee comprising of members from department of floriculture, revenue, civil society and other concerned departments and only after a clarification from this committee, Chinar trees could be pruned or cut. “Despite the circular, the committee has not been established,” Zareef said, adding, “When the Committee is not there, wherefrom the University authorities have sought the permission to prune the Chinar trees?”

Lamenting administration’s attitude towards Kashmir’s heritage (Chinar), Zareef told Kashmir Images that the man appointed as Chinar Development Officer, Meraj-ud-Din has all along been ruthless to the species. “We have been protesting against him, there are Vigilance cases against him but still he continues to be there destroying the heritage,” Zareef said.

Zareef said that the said officer was even punished for ordering pruning and cutting of Chinar trees at Bijbehara sometime back. “He (Kala) was in lock-up for three days,” Zareef said, wondering, why he continues to be holding the post.