Baramulla,13-May; At least a dozen orchardists from Pattan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district protested for the third consecutive day against the administration’s decision to cut down their apple trees to make way for the construction of a road. Sources told those Scores of orchardists from Palhallan village Blocked Srinagar Baramulla National Highway while protesting against the Naib Tehsildar Palhallan and other officials entered their orchards with cutters and earthmovers and destroyed at least 60 trees. “They cut down apple trees that were up to 60 years old. We used to get about 2000 boxes of apples per year from these trees. We begged the officials, but they did not listen,” one protestor said.Although after the intervention of SHO Pattan Protesters registered their Protest on the road-side of the National Highway. Protesters alleged that it is the Naib Tehsildar Palhallan only who has Cutted down these trees for his personal interest with malafide intention.Meanwhile Tehsildar Pattan Saqib Murtaza (KAS) told that everything has been done according to Law and enough time was been given to both the Parties.“’we have only removed Encroachment from Pathway which is a state land Under Survey No 2389 and have not interfered in any of the Property Land. The protestors requested that Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, should intervene in the matter to ensure that these poor farmers’ only source of income is not taken away. Pertinently the orchardists gathered here at the Press Enclave on Thursday and protested in support of their demands. (CNS)
