Kashmir takes immense pride in its majestic chinar, a tree woven into the Valley's cultural and environmental identity. For generations, it has been cherished for its grandeur, its deep red autumn hues, and the cool shade it offers during sweltering summers. The Chinar is more than just a tree - it is a living symbol of Kashmir's heritage.

However, time and neglect are quietly transforming this heritage icon into a public safety hazard. Many Chinars, planted decades or even centuries ago, now stand precariously along busy roads, intersections, and residential areas. Their massive trunks and sprawling roots obstruct traffic, while their ageing branches, weakened by time, wind, and snow, pose a serious threat to life and property.

Recognising its cultural significance, the government rightly declared the Chinar a protected tree years ago. Yet, in the face of rapid urbanisation, that well-intentioned decision has created a new dilemma. Urban planners and civic authorities often find themselves trapped between heritage preservation and public safety. The result is administrative inertia, an unwillingness to act decisively, even when the risk is evident.

At numerous locations across Kashmir, such as Nunar in Ganderbal and Pandrethan, Habak-Naseem Bagh Road and Shalimar Chowk in Srinagar, Chinars are present in the middle of narrow roads or at key intersections, causing chronic traffic congestion. School buses, ambulances, and daily commuters are frequently caught in long snarls, while traffic police often appear helpless to regulate the flow. In many areas, dangling branches hang dangerously over power lines and rooftops, waiting for a storm or snowfall to trigger disaster.

The situation calls for pragmatism over sentimentality. Safeguarding human life and ensuring smooth traffic flow must not be seen as acts against heritage. The authorities can and must strike a balance by seeking legal permission where necessary to remove hazardous trees and by compensating each removal with new Chinar plantations in open spaces, parks, and public gardens.

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