Asia’s oldest Chinar remains green at 650
By Tehelka Web Bureau
Srinagar, Sep 24: The 650-year-old Chinar tree at Chattergam in Budgam district, described by the Jammu and Kashmir government as the oldest Chinar in Asia, remains alive and green, despite the natural loss of some of its older and dried branches.
The Forest, Ecology and Environment Department provided the information in response to a question raised by Budgam MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi in the Legislative Assembly.
Responding specifically about the tree at Chattergam, the department said, “The chinar tree at Chattergam Budgam is the Asia’s oldest chinar tree (650-years-old).”
It said some of the tree’s older and dried branches had naturally fallen, while “the remaining portion of the chinar is green.”
The government said protection measures had been put in place around the tree, including iron fencing around its critical root zone to prevent traffic and protect the roots from soil compaction and suffocation.
“This will help to avoid any traffic in root zone,” the reply stated.
The government also said protection measures were being implemented for Chinar trees across Kashmir.
Around 30,000 Chinar trees have been surveyed in Kashmir, excluding those located in security campuses and installations, according to the department.
It further said that no Chinar branch can be cut without permission from the local administration.
“Nobody is allowed to cut down even a branch of chinar with the prior permission from the local administration as per the standing rules thereof,” the reply said.
The department said damaging Chinar trees by carving them with nails, hammering signboards into them or damaging their bark and roots was also an offence.
The Department of Floriculture has planted 709 Chinar saplings in gardens and parks during the past three years, while 7,134 saplings were distributed free of cost to the public, educational institutions and security establishments in Kashmir.
In Budgam, the government said, 161 requests seeking permission to prune dried or hazardous Chinar branches were received over the past three years. Permission was granted in 130 cases.
