Stop green Khair trees felling in village Chilka, Tehsil Dinga Amb, District Kathua - ICELA.
16/01/2026
Jammu, January 16 (KIP)-. Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action (ICELA) J&K chapter urged upon the UT govt. to stop green Khair (medicinal plant) felling in village Chilka, Dinga Amb district Kathua in a press conference held here today under the chairmanship of Ashok Sharma former legislator and convenor ICELA.
Mr Ashok Sharma said that there is a complete ban on green felling by the hon'ble Supreme Court. In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) titled Ashok Sharma vs State of J&K and Ors, the High Court of J&K stopped felling of green Khair trees more than two and half decade back but in village Chilka, the indiscriminate felling of green trees of Khair which is a medicinal plant is taking place which is illegal and unfortunate. Such types of denudation of green cover have already played havoc resulting thereby, is the climatic change unpredictable rains and floods causing disease and disaster.
Mr Sharma, BR Chandan former deputy Advocate General, Dr Yashpaul Sharma, Prikshant Shandal Advocates, Amit Sharma and Rithik Sharma while addressing the press conference appreciated the process initiated by the Deputy Commissioner Kathua and concerned SDM and Range Officers Jasrota who have seized the fallen Khair trees sought intervention of the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Secretary Atul Dullu, Director General of Police Nalin Parvhat, Commissioner Secretary Forest Chatur Bhuj Behra ensuring the protection of Khair trees in village Chilka and elsewhere in J&K UT to save the green cover which is necessary for human survival.
Mr. Sharma also urged upon the ICELA volunteers to watch and monitor in the local areas ensuring proper reporting to the ICELA J&K Chapter wherever the green felling takes place while appreciating the timely action of District Chapter Kathua President Madan Singh and his team.