Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 7: As the Committee of Experts on the issue of effect on health by pollen produced from Russian Poplar trees has submitted its recommendation, High Court today directed the Government to submit the Action Taken Report (ATR) on those recommendations before the court on the next date of hearing.
The court had directed the Committee constituted for revisiting the issue of felling of only female Russian poplar trees and placing the decision with regard to impact of pollen from poplar trees.
It is after the finalization of suggestions and recommendations made by the Committee of Experts the same has been submitted to the Law Department for its approval and the Law Department after its approval submitted the same before the court which was taken into consideration by the Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sanjay Dhar and directed the Government to submit the ATR before the court with regard to these suggestions and recommendations.
The report filed by Law Department reveals that social forestry has identified 68,444 female Russian poplars in the Kashmir division and after issuance of requisite felling permission from the concerned these poplars are being removed and till date 27962 such trees have been removed.
The Committe in compliance of the court directions under the Chairmanship of Chief Conservator of Forests J&K and HoFF has gave its final comments on the issue of impact of pollen trees on the human health.
Referring the medical report maintained by GMC Srinagar, the committee observed that most respiratory disease in Kashmir are due to 65% pine tree pollen, 59.3% to Chinar tree pollen and 18.2% to poplar tree pollen.
It is also said that the pollen and fluff form other trees do have role in human health besides they also carry many viruses of plants as well.
With regard to role of pollen in spreading COVID-19, the report says that there is no scientific study available at present which can support that pollen and fluff from female poplar trees have a role on spread of Corona disease.
Committee has suggested for general precautions to be taken during the period of pollen/fluff spread by adopting pollen avoided guidelines issued by WHO in 2003. The Committee concluded that the pollen/fluff act as a vector for dissemination of various substances present in the atmosphere, such as bacteria, fungi, dust particles and pollen of other flowering plants.
Committee keeping in view of all aspects and medical opinion suggested for phasing out of female poplar trees standing on adjoining sensitive locations like hospital, schools, markets and places with SMC limits.
Committee further suggested that lopping of these trees should be carried out by the concerned departments or individuals who own these plantation after getting their identification by social forestry department in Spring season.
It may be noted here that the court has prohibited the authorities to cut or fell these female trees. Court has also kept in abeyance any direction passed to cut these trees.
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