J&K CM Omar Abdullah makes strong pitch against amendments to Jammu and Kashmir Preservation of Specified Trees Act, 1969 SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah, on Monday, made a strong pitch against a bill brought by his own party MLA that seeks to grant landowners the right to cut walnut trees on their property.Omar said passage of the bill would harm the country’s largest walnut economy, of which Kashmir accounts for about 90 per cent, and would rob J&K of a key part of its identity.The bill, moved by National Conference legislator from Pahalgam, Altaf Ahmad Wani, sought amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Preservation of Specified Trees Act, 1969, to allow felling of walnut trees on private land.Under the 1969 law, no person is allowed to cut a walnut tree, whether on private or state land, without prior permission from the competent authority, and any violation of the law attracts a fine ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000.Defending his bill, Wani said the law is creating a huge problem for landowners as walnut trees occupy significant space, around three trees per kanal (0.05 hectares), and they don’t give reasonable revenue to landowners.He said walnuts were once a major source of income in Kashmir, but most of the trees have aged and stopped yielding. Wani said harvesting is largely done by the owners themselves, and over the years, many people have been injured and died due to falls from trees during the harvesting. He advocated replacing ageing trees with high-density plantations.“It is a strange law where I am not allowed to cut a tree standing on my own land. One has to knock on many doors to get permission, which has become a source of corruption,” Wani said.Omar, however, defended the restrictions, saying the law serves a broader purpose of conserving walnut and chinar trees. He said J&K produces about 3.5 lakh metric tonnes of walnuts annually, around 90 per cent of the country’s total output.The CM said walnut wood is integral to the handicrafts industry, particularly wood carving, and voiced concern that allowing felling of walnut trees could lead to their replacement with concrete buildings. “I am sure once walnut trees are cut, owners will build houses or other structures there,” Omar said, adding that the government could consider changes only if felled trees would be replaced with walnut cultivation on the same land.Though the walnut industry faces competition from soft-shelled varieties from regions like California, Chile, Kashmiri walnuts are valued for their superior taste. Major export destinations for Kashmiri walnuts include the UAE, Turkey, Iraq, Singapore, Algeria, Qatar, Bhutan, Kuwait, Seychelles and Nigeria.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAmit Shah Flags Russia-China Influence During CPI, CPI(M) Formation; Slams Bhagat Singh ComparisonCensus Goes Fully Digital: How India Will Count Its Population With Apps, Data And Self-Entry’Global Oil Crisis May Push India Closer To Iran’: US Expert Robert Pape Hints Big Diplomatic Shift’India Is Now Naxal-Free’: Amit Shah Tells Lok Sabha; Hits Out At Congress, Rahul Gandhi’India Better Mediator Than Pakistan’: Israeli Envoy Says Islamabad Is Trying Hard To Be RelevantTrump Threatens To ‘Obliterate’ Iran’s Infra If No Deal; Tehran Rejects Pak’s Mediation ProposalNew Income Tax Rules Kick In From April With Same Rates, Sharper Rules And Tighter Reporting System’Congress Laid Red Carpet For Red Corridor’: Anurag Thakur Hits Out Over Naxalism’Family Of Pimps’: Pakistan Minister Khawaja Asif Loses Cool At Jaishankar’s Alleged ‘Dalal’ RemarkMiG-29 Fighter Jets Get Major Boost, Indian Air Force Plans ASRAAM Missile Integration For Combat123Photostories7 traditional cooling alternatives to coffee for your summer morning routineNavi Mumbai’s billionaire lanes: 5 posh localities dominating high-end real estateBeautiful and inspiring Sheikhas of the UAE: Trailblazers redefining royaltySmriti Mandhana: 5 life lessons to learn from the ace Indian woman cricketerDiabetes and liver disease are tightly linked, study of over 9,000 Indian adult finds: Doctor answers critical questions on this hidden connectionThis island nation is Africa’s best-kept secret—and hardly anyone is visitingSridevi to Madhuri Dixit: Decoding the appeal of the sunset-hued saree and who truly owned itWorld Idli Day 2026: 8 traditional varieties of South Indian idlis that are perfect for breakfastWhat is micro-cheating? Therapist explains the two sides of ‘Flickering’ in relationshipsWhy this food is called ‘poor man’s protein’ and 9 ways to consume it in summer months123Hot PicksIncome Tax Changes from April 1stNFL Trade NewsCandace OwensAaron RodgersIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingGold Price PredictionDelhi DOE Results 2026RR vs CSKStrait of HormuzJEE Admit CardKharg IslandIndian Army Agniveer RecruitmentWhy Stock Market Crash TodayBank Holiday this weekKharg Island
J&K CM Omar Abdullah makes strong pitch against amendments to Jammu and Kashmir Preservation of Specified Trees Act, 1969
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah, on Monday, made a strong pitch against a bill brought by his own party MLA that seeks to grant landowners the right to cut walnut trees on their property.Omar said passage of the bill would harm the country’s largest walnut economy, of which Kashmir accounts for about 90 per cent, and would rob J&K of a key part of its identity.The bill, moved by National Conference legislator from Pahalgam, Altaf Ahmad Wani, sought amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Preservation of Specified Trees Act, 1969, to allow felling of walnut trees on private land.Under the 1969 law, no person is allowed to cut a walnut tree, whether on private or state land, without prior permission from the competent authority, and any violation of the law attracts a fine ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000.Defending his bill, Wani said the law is creating a huge problem for landowners as walnut trees occupy significant space, around three trees per kanal (0.05 hectares), and they don’t give reasonable revenue to landowners.He said walnuts were once a major source of income in Kashmir, but most of the trees have aged and stopped yielding. Wani said harvesting is largely done by the owners themselves, and over the years, many people have been injured and died due to falls from trees during the harvesting. He advocated replacing ageing trees with high-density plantations.“It is a strange law where I am not allowed to cut a tree standing on my own land. One has to knock on many doors to get permission, which has become a source of corruption,” Wani said.Omar, however, defended the restrictions, saying the law serves a broader purpose of conserving walnut and chinar trees. He said J&K produces about 3.5 lakh metric tonnes of walnuts annually, around 90 per cent of the country’s total output.The CM said walnut wood is integral to the handicrafts industry, particularly wood carving, and voiced concern that allowing felling of walnut trees could lead to their replacement with concrete buildings. “I am sure once walnut trees are cut, owners will build houses or other structures there,” Omar said, adding that the government could consider changes only if felled trees would be replaced with walnut cultivation on the same land.Though the walnut industry faces competition from soft-shelled varieties from regions like California, Chile, Kashmiri walnuts are valued for their superior taste. Major export destinations for Kashmiri walnuts include the UAE, Turkey, Iraq, Singapore, Algeria, Qatar, Bhutan, Kuwait, Seychelles and Nigeria.
