To,
The Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi
Dear Home Secretary,
Ref:
1. https://thewire.in/government/covid-19-pollen-kashmir-poplars-axed
2. http://twocircles.net/2020apr12/435927.html
Sub: Representation To Repeal Order and Stop Felling of Poplar trees. REPEAL ORDER – CALL FOR INSTITUTIONAL DISCOURSE WITH SCIENTIFIC, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACADEMICS AND EXPERTS.
We append below two news items indicating that thousands and more of Poplar trees have been ordered to be felled through a government order. However, we did not find the order at https://jk.gov.in/jammukashmir/?q=search/node/poplar OR https://jkgad.nic.in/leftMenu/OrderCirculer.aspx?ordType=O
Further, going by the news items it is observed that seminars and scientific bodies opine that there is no connection between pollen and COVID-19 but on the other hand, there could be huge damage to environment and economy of the Kashmiris if the Order for felling of poplar trees is executed.
Given that the health of every person in Kashmir is important and in light of various academic seminars and research bodies’ statements that there is no connection between pollen of Poplar trees and COVID-19 we urge you to:
a) Place order of felling poplar trees in public domain;
b) Repeal the Order cited in the news items.
c) Further, seek country-level institutional scientific and health opinion before embarking on such massive anti-carbon sequestering measure that could seriously impact the health of Kashmiris and Jammu too.
There is NO causal association proven to COVID-19 as far as known medical opinion goes. There are some-conditions that happen to be seen more in those with COVID-19 who develop severe disease or die. These conditions are mostly senior age/ elderly citizens or those with non-communicable diseases NCDs (cardiovascular diseases like heart diseases and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (like asthma), etc) OR those that lower body’s immunity.
As per medical opinion, things that put us at risk of NCDs like tobacco use or vaping, or TB etc. are also warned against.
Pollen could aggravate asthma for some, which is a NCD and allergies – but going by this logic then will we kill all flowers for a non-living thing (virus)?
We trust your earliest response in the matter.
Best,
Prof Sandeep Pandey, National Vice President, Socialist Party (India)
Shri Sudarshan Sarade, Convenor, South Asian People Action against Climate Crisis (SAPACC)
Soumya Datta,Co-convener : South Asian People’s Action on Climate Crisis SAPACC , / Movement for Advancing Understanding on Sustainability And Mutuality (MAUSAM)/
Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha BJVJ /India-Climate-Justice ICJ.
Ashoka Fellow.Advisory Board member – UN Climate Technology Centre and Network.Sagar Dhara – co-convenor, SAPACC, former UNEP consultant, ex-Supreme Court Committee Member
Bobby Ramakanth & Surabhi Agarwal, Spokespersons, SP(I)
Dr Lubna Sarwath, State Gen Secretary, Telangana, Hyderabad, Socialist Party (India)
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Encl: 1 & 2 references appended below.
1- https://thewire.in/government/covid-19-pollen-kashmir-poplars-axed
