SRINAGAR APRIL 08:(KNS)  The  District Administration Srinagar has started work to develop largest Chinar Park of the Kashmir Valley in Nishat area of the District on the foothills of the Zabarwan Mountains.

 

In this regard Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Mohammad Aijaz Asad said the work on proposed Chinar Park  named as *ChinarZaar*(The Valley of Chinars) has begun by  the plantation drive of Chinar saplings at the identified site. The ChinarZaar shall be spread over nearly 400 kanals of land and is proposed to be developed as an exclusive green zone to attract more tourists and local visitors.

 

The Deputy Commissioner Srinagar who conducted site visits to identify the suitable land said the Plantation drive of Chinar saplings has already started few days ago. 

 

 

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner today chaired a meeting of the concerned officers of the line Departments to review the pace of the works being executed in collaboration with HDFC Bank. The bank has agreed to take up the development of the Chinar Park  under Corporate Social Responsibility component. 

 

On the occasion, DC was informed that work for fencing the identified land is being started by the HDFC Bank under the Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR),  while work for landscaping of the Park and development of approch road shall be executed jointly by R&B, Floriculture and Urban Forestry Departments.

 

The DC directed the officers of all line departments to work in coordinated manner for the development of the largest Chinar Park and complete the prestigious project within a period of one month.

 

The DC said Chinar tree is the legacy of Kashmir and is a living heritage and has a deep Cultural value in the history of Kashmir. He said the development of the largest Chinar Park at upper Nishat will further enhance the scenic beauty and environment in the area, and would also become an attraction for tourists to uplift local socio-economic conditions.

 

Highlighting the importance of Chinar tree, the DC said the Chinar tree doesn’t have an aesthetic value only but it provides precious ecosystem services as well-which includes non-marketable benefits we derive from the trees.

"Throughout the globe there is a phenomenon called the urban heat island effect which means that more you move towards the city core, you have relatively higher temperature as compared to hinterlands. That’s where the Chinar tree play a crucial ecological role and soothes the effects of heat",he added. 

 

"Mororeover, Chinar is extremely important for carbon sequestration which is a process of Capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide., besides to combat the climate change crisis chinar trees are the best solutions", the DC also said.

 

Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar Faz lul Haseeb, Sub Divisional Magistrate East, Murtaza Ahmad, Divisional Forest Officer, Urban, Abid Nazir, Tehsildar concerned Aaliya Tabasum, besides other officers of Floriculture, R&B, Revenue and representative from HDFC Bank were present in the review meeting.(KNS)