Srinagar, March 28: Kashmir has over 10,000 Chinar trees as old as 300 years, as per the survey done by the Floriculture Department.

As per the official figures, accessed by The Kashmir Monitor, Ganderbal district has 2000 Chinars above 300 years old, which is highest in Kashmir.

The Anantnag district has more than 1800 Chinar trees as old as 300 years followed by Srinagar which has more than 1500 Chinars. Baramulla has more than 1300.

Likewise the Budgam district has more than 1100 Chinars above 300 years old, followed by the Kupwara -800 Chinars.

Similarly, Kulgam has more than 600 Chinars followed by Shopian, Pulwama-500 and 300, respectively. While Bandipora has more than 200 Chinars.

As per the Department, a 627-year-old Chinar tree, considered to be the world’s oldest and biggest Chinar tree and has been found at a garden of a Muslim shrine in central Kashmir.

The Chinar tree, which has become a part of Kashmir’s heritage, was found at Chattergam in Chadoora area of Badgam district.

Though the felling and lopping of Chinars is banned in the Valley, population of the trees is on the decline every year. While an official report in 1970 stated that Kashmir had around 42,000
Chinar trees that year. While the official figures reveal that number has reduced to 35,000.

In the recent incident, 17 dead Chinars were lopped in the SP College in the Srinagar City, giving the reason that the Chinars were drying and dead and posed threat to the human lives due to falling of its branches.

Speaking to The Kashmir Monitor, Director Floriculture, Dr Abdul Hafiz Shah said, “After the 2014 deluge, the majestic Chinar are declining.”

Dr Shah said that the main reason behind the decline in trend is that after 2014 flood has eroded the fertile soil from the roots and the concretion of road and building started enormously which resulted in the compaction of soil around the Chinar trees.

“The roots of Chinar are as widespread as its crown and due to the macdamisation, the roots are choked and trees don’t get the good supply of air and necessary minerals which results in drying of the Chinar trees,” Dr Shah said, adding that there should be at least distance of 50 meters away from the Chinars for construction.

Meanwhile the officials in the Economic Reconstruction Company (ERA) also revealed that thirteen Chinar trees were lopped down with the permission of government for the construction of Jahangir Chowk- Rambagh flyover.