SRINAGAR: Concerned over rising rate of infections by poplar pollen, authorities on Monday banned the fresh plantation of Russian poplars in and around Srinagar City.
Sources in the administration said that under section 133 District Magistrate Srinagar Farooq Ahmad Shah banned the plantation of Russian poplars. He asked concerned DFOs of Social Forestry and Urban Forestry to give a report within 15-days.
A meeting of district administration headed by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Farooq Ahmad Shah took place today in which the decision was taken, sources said.
Meanwhile, confirming the development, Shah said that the pollen infection has become a major worry for people in city. It has been decided that no fresh plantation of Russain poplars should be allowed in the city.
We have put a blanket ban on the plantation of Russian poplars in city, and if anyone is found violating the directives, he will be subject to legal action, Shah said.
“Pollen allergies are caused by pollen grain from poplar trees which have been widely planted in the valley because of their high value soft timber used extensively for making fruit boxes, etc.”
Srinagar has an enormous surfeit of sexually frustrated poplars, which every May release a thick stream of unfertilised seeds into the atmosphere.
An ENT specialist said, “The pollen grains from the male plants are carried away by wind or insects. When this pollen present in the air lands in a person’s eyes, nose, lungs, skin, etc., some people react to it with an allergy owing to their body’s sensitivity.
“They can cause eye irritation, sneezing, coughing, etc., or more severe symptoms like allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma and even allergic conjunctivitis.”
He also said the allergy is sometimes so strong that it causes temporary loss of smell, severe throat infections and hay fever.
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