Tuesday, Mar 16 :The Chinar tree is an integral part of Kashmiri culture and experiencing its cool shade is said to be conducive to health.
In enhancing green cover of heritage trees, a plantation drive was carried out by conservator of Forests, Srinagar Circle Shri Zubair Ahmad Shah, along with Divisional Forest Officer Bandipora Shri Shabir Ahmad Bhat at Dharnambal area of Ninglee Plantation Range of Bandipora Forest Division.
On the occasion about 60 Chinar saplings were planted and CF Srinagar laid emphasis to bring such blank areas under Chinar plantation so as to revive the lost glory of this heritage tree.
Later another plantation drive under,”Green J&K Drive” at Tarzoo was conducted in which CF Srinagar Circle, CF North Circle Mr. Irfan Rasool Wani (IFS), DFO JV Division Mr. Parvaiz Ahmad Wani and DFO Bandipora along with locals actively participated and about 50 saplings were planted.
Chinar locally known as “Boein”in Kashmir.
“This tree is grown in Kashmir and is nowhere else in India, thus symbolising Kashmir in the world, it is kind of an identity of Kashmir and until it’s being publicized and be known to people, Chinar won’t survive.
The more we have information about it, the more we know about it, and the more we will be involved in saving it”, DFO Bandipora, Shabir Ahmad.
The Mughal rulers introduced the trees to Kashmir in the early 16th century. Tourists have chronicled the mighty Chinars as the magic of Kashmir.