Ganderbal, May 16: Residents of several villages in Ganderbal district have raised fresh concerns over the widespread presence of Russian poplars, citing health issues caused by the pollen-laden cotton fluff during spring.
Locals from Ganderbal, Lar, Wakura, and Kangan said the white cotton-like seeds shed by female Russian poplars in April-May trigger allergies, respiratory problems, and eye irritation, especially among children and the elderly. “Every year our homes, schools, and water sources are covered with this fluff. Children as well as elderly get allergic and we can’t even keep windows open,” said Farooq Ahmad, a resident of Kangan.
Locals alleged that large patches still exist along Nallah Sindh, irrigation canals, and roadsides in Ganderbal, with little action on the ground. They also flagged fire risk, as the dry fluff is highly inflammable. Sources said that though after the High Court directions few years back, the district administration had ordered immediate felling of the banned female Russian poplar trees, however after some time, drive fizzled out and the banned poplars continue to be a health concern for people. Russian poplars were introduced in Kashmir in the 1980s as a fast-growing source of timber and plywood. However, the J&K High Court in 2015 ordered their removal after taking note of the health hazard.
