DH NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Feb 26
National Conference MLA Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri has demanded a high-level inquiry into the alleged felling of green Chinar trees, a protected species, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
The Bijbehara MLA was reacting to pictures on social media that purported to show green Chinar trees being felled in the Rani Bagh public park. “These pictures must be reported to the National Green Tribunal for cognisance and accountability. Mean-while, the Anantnag deputy commissioner should initiate a high-level inquiry, book the culprits for vandalising public property and impose heavy fines as a deterrent!” he said in a post on X.
Chinar trees are protected in Jammu and Kashmir and cannot be felled or lopped without permission from the divisional commissioner’s office that are issued on the basis of reports of the tehsildar and the district floriculture officer concerned.
Peoples Democratic Party leader Iltija Mufti also took to social media to hit out at those responsible for felling the trees.
“On even days the Jammu and Kashmir government geotags Chinar trees, promoting conservation, but on odd days 500-year-old Chinar trees symbolising history and the very passage of time itself are felled. Infuriating and puzzling. No excuse whatsoever can justify this travesty,” she said on X.
Environment activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat said the felling of Chinar trees was carried out under the garb of pruning branches.
“Chinar trees in the middle of Rani Bagh in Anantnag have been vandalised under the garb of lopping. I (am) feeling depressed,” he said.
J&K Budget will lay strong foundation for public relief, development: NC
SRINAGAR, Feb 26: National Conference leader and Chief Spokesman of the party Tanvir Sadiq on Wednesday expressed confidence that the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir budget will lay a strong foundation for public relief and constructive development.
“The government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is by the people and for the people and providing relief to the people is the first priority of the government”, Sadiq, who is also a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) said in a statement here today.
He said that the first budget of the newly elected government is going to be presented next month.
“The Chief Minister consulted extensively with all stakeholders before preparing the budget and we are confident that the budget will lay a strong foundation for public relief and development,” the NC leader said.
Sadiq claimed that the Omar Abdullah led government has succeeded to a large extent in restoring the trust and confidence of the people towards the government.
“For the past 10 years, especially after 2019, the communication between the government and the people was broken”, he said.
The NC Chief Spokesman said the government led by Omar Abdullah has managed to restore that connection once again, the Ministers and members of the National Conference have dedicated themselves to the people and are always available to listen to the people’s problems and solve them.
“From 2015 to 2024, only anti-people decisions and actions were taken. But, now every decision of the National Conference government will be people-friendly and in public interest”, he emphasized.
The NC leader said that during the last 10 years in Jammu and Kashmir, there was only public opposition and anti-people decisions were taken.
