1.35 lakh Willows felled at Wular, 19 lakh plants raised: Govt

Jammu, Feb 19: The government on Thursday informed the House that around 1.35 lakh willow trees have been felled in and around Wular Lake under a phased restoration plan, while over 19 lakh plants have been raised in the catchment area to mitigate the ecological impact.
In response to MLA Irshad Rasool Kar’s query, the Minister-in-Charge said that 1.91 lakh willow trees were identified for removal in the first phase under the Comprehensive Management Action Plan for Wular Lake. Of these, nearly 1.35 lakh trees have already been removed.
The government said, the exercise is not deforestation but a habitat management measure aimed at restoring the lake’s natural wetland character.
It also said the plan does not provide for blanket removal and instead prescribes selective and need-based cutting aligned with ecological goals.
The Minister further informed the House that, total estimated number of willow trees in and around the lake stands between 19 and 21 lakh. “The removal, the government said, is being carried out in a phased and strategic manner based on management requirements.”
The government also disclosed that the tree removal has generated approximately Rs 31.95 crore in revenue so far. The entire amount has been deposited under government receipts in accordance with financial rules.
“On compensatory measures, the government said, more than 19 lakh plants have been raised in the Wular catchment since the establishment of the Wular Conservation and Management Authority in 2012.”
They said, in the Bandipora catchment alone, over 2,900 hectares have been treated through afforestation, plantation and soil conservation works. These measures, they said, aim to stabilise slopes, control erosion and reduce sediment flow into the lake as part of the larger restoration effort. (KNO)