Nearly 6 lakh trees cut in Kashmir in five years for river ‘encroachment’: RTI

July 7, 2025 by News Desk

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5.84 lakh trees were cut in Jammu Kashmir over the last five years, from 2020 to 2025, as part of an anti-encroachment drive along the Jhelum river system.

The information, obtained through a query filed by Srinagar-based activist M.M. Shuja, further revealed that a total of 6.33 lakh trees had been identified for removal following an internal assessment conducted by the office of the Chief Engineer of the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department in Kashmir.

As per a report by The Wire, these trees, most of them poplars, were spread across the river’s entire course in the Valley—from its origin at Verinag in South Kashmir to Boniyar in Baramulla, where the Jhelum exits into Pakistan-administered territory.

“Of the trees removed, the department’s Sumbal division alone accounted for the felling of 4.79 lakh trees,” the report from Wire said.

This stretch, between Panzinara and Boniyar, was identified as a key area where tree growth was classified as an obstruction to the flow of water. In addition to the removal of trees, the department reported that 1,884 structures and 283 boundary walls were also demolished as part of the anti-encroachment drive.

Officials from the I&FC department claimed that the trees encroached on riverbanks and canals, and also obstructed the natural flow of water, and had contributed to damage during previous floods. Many of these trees, they argued, were planted for commercial gain or used to informally claim government land.

Environmentalists, however, have warned that such large-scale deforestation in an ecologically sensitive region like Kashmir could have devastating long-term consequences.

Trees, especially along riverbanks, play a crucial role in stabilising embankments, preventing soil erosion, and regulating temperatures through shade and evapotranspiration.

Scientific studies have shown that tree cover can reduce local surface temperatures by as much as 5 to 6 degrees Celsius, especially during periods of extreme heat.

Their removal contributes to rising temperatures, worsens the effects of heatwaves, and eliminates one of the region’s most effective tools for mitigating climate impact.

In recent years, Kashmir has begun witnessing unusual and worrying climate patterns. On July 5, 2025, Srinagar recorded a high of 37.4 degrees Celsius—the highest July temperature in 72 years, while the hill resort of Pahalgam, traditionally known for its cool air, recorded a temperature higher than Jammu city.

While no official study has been carried out to directly investigate the health impacts of this deforestation, a clear pattern is emerging. Hospitals across the Valley have reported a rise in respiratory illnesses such as asthma, lung infections, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Data from Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) shows that 5,455 lung cancer cases were registered between 2010 and 2022, with annual registrations consistently remaining above 500 in recent years.

Doctors have also reported that COPD rates in Kashmir are among the highest in India, particularly among those aged 40 and above, and attribute this to deteriorating air quality, tree loss, and urban sprawl.

According to health experts at SKIMS, an estimated 10,000 deaths occur annually in Jammu Kashmir due to illnesses linked to air pollution, a figure experts warn may rise further if deforestation and environmental degradation continue unchecked.

Despite these warnings, authorities have continued the anti-encroachment campaign without any detailed public explanation of how the ecological and climatic impacts of cutting nearly six lakh trees were assessed.

Activists argue that the removal of tree cover under the guise of river management is contributing to long-term environmental instability and worsening public health outcomes, particularly in a region already vulnerable to the effects of global climate change.