Srinagar, Nov 14 (KNS): The alleged cutting of century-old sweet chestnut trees on the University of Kashmir campus has triggered criticism from environmental activists and former legislator Vikramaditya Singh, with the Jammu and Kashmir Climate Action Group (JKCAG) accusing the university administration of damaging heritage trees under the pretext of pruning.

JKCAG Chairman Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat alleged that several sweet chestnut trees (Castanea sativa) near the university's History Department had been severely damaged during a pruning exercise undertaken by the administration.

He said the trees were part of Kashmir's botanical heritage and had been planted during the reign of Maharaja Hari Singh nearly a century ago.

"The sweet chestnut trees are heritage trees which were planted during the period of Maharaja Hari Singh across several places in Kashmir, including the present-day University of Kashmir," Bhat said.

He claimed that the species was introduced to Kashmir around 100 years ago by Mohammad Rehman Affindi, whom he described as a friend and Oxford University classmate of Maharaja Hari Singh.

Bhat alleged that the university administration had removed major branches of two chestnut trees near the History Department, causing extensive damage to them.

"Cutting down these trees is a serious issue. With our intervention, we stopped the axing of other chestnut trees, but unfortunately, the University of Kashmir calls it 'pruning', even though all the huge branches of two chestnut trees near the History Department have been cut down," he said.

The University of Kashmir, however, rejected allegations circulating on social media and maintained that the exercise involved pruning trees whose branches posed a threat to the Economics Department building.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The university's explanation drew criticism from social media users, some of whom questioned whether the extent of branch removal could be described as routine pruning.

JKCAG sought the intervention of the concerned authorities to prevent further damage to the trees and called upon Dr Karan Singh, son of Maharaja Hari Singh, to take up the matter.

"We seek the personal intervention of authorities and also Dr Karan Singh sahib, whose father Maharaja Hari Singh had ordered the plantation of these trees," the group said in a statement.

The organisation also referred to an earlier incident in 2020, alleging that around 50 sweet chestnut trees had been cut down in the New Theed area of Harwan for the construction of a power grid station.

Meanwhile, former Member of the Legislative Council Vikramaditya Singh, grandson of Maharaja Hari Singh, expressed anger over the reported damage to the trees.

Reacting to a post shared by Raja Muzaffar Bhat on Instagram, Singh wrote, "This is unacceptable. People responsible for this should be taken to task."

The controversy has brought renewed attention to the protection of old and historically significant trees in Kashmir, with environmental activists demanding greater accountability in decisions involving their pruning or removal.

While the university maintains that the work was undertaken to address a safety concern, the Climate Action Group has disputed that explanation and called for action against those responsible for the alleged damage. (KNS)