Srinagar – The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has welcomed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s powerful environmental message during the inauguration of Van Mahotsav 2025, where he declared, “development must be judicious; for every tree uprooted, a hundred must be planted.” EPG sees this as a much-needed affirmation of ecological responsibility at a time when Kashmir’s fragile urban ecology is facing unprecedented stress.
The Chief Minister’s remarks—delivered in the presence of senior officials and civil society stakeholders—resonated strongly with ongoing concerns in Srinagar, particularly over the controversial flyover project from MA Link Road to Rajbagh. The proposed route, critics warn, would cut through Polo Ground—one of the city’s last surviving central green spaces—threatening the felling of numerous mature chinar trees, iconic to Kashmir’s cultural and ecological landscape.
EPG, a civil society initiative advocating environmental preservation in J&K, stressed that the chinar is more than just a tree species. “Its loss would represent not only ecological degradation but an erosion of Kashmir’s identity and heritage,” the group said in a statement. The chopping of chinars, it warned, could deeply impact biodiversity, urban air quality, and microclimate stability.
Beyond the trees, the group expressed alarm over the potential loss of Polo Ground itself, a critical space for youth activities, sports, and community gatherings. “In a time when youth vulnerability—including rising substance abuse—is growing in the Valley, we must preserve spaces that promote social cohesion and mental well-being,” the group said.
EPG also warned of serious urban planning consequences. Srinagar, already prone to waterlogging and flash floods, could see worsened flooding due to increasing concretisation and impermeable surfaces. “Examples from elsewhere should serve as a wake-up call. Increasing concrete infrastructure without environmental buffers can backfire catastrophically,” the group cautioned.
As an alternative to the current flyover plan, EPG proposed a more sustainable urban mobility solution—repurposing the underutilized Zero Bridge as a motorable crossing. Such a move, it argued, could ease traffic congestion while preserving the city’s green heritage.
“Urban development must be about improving quality of life—not just reducing travel time. This includes protecting vital ecological assets, promoting youth development, and safeguarding climate resilience,” the statement said.
In a symbolic yet alarming observation, EPG highlighted a growing trend of “strangulation” of ancient chinar trees due to concrete and granite encasement of their trunks. “Nothing could be more satirical than damaging what we seek to protect,” it noted.
Calling for a full review of the flyover plan, EPG urged the administration to initiate a transparent public consultation process and conduct a thorough environmental impact assessment. The group reiterated that the CM’s words must translate into action on the ground—not just token tree-planting drives, but sustained policy change.
“We urge the government to choose wisely. Protecting Polo Ground and our green assets today is an investment in our future—our health, our climate, and our shared identity,” said Faiz Bakshi, Convener of EPG.
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