Srinagar- The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that about 1.35 lakh willow trees have been felled in and around Wular Lake under a phased restoration plan, while over 19 lakh plants have been raised in the catchment area to offset the ecological impact.

Replying to a query by MLA Irshad Rasool Kar, the minister-in-charge said 1.91 lakh willow trees were identified for removal in the first phase under the Comprehensive Management Action Plan for Wular Lake, of which nearly 1.35 lakh have already been removed, reported news agency KNO.

The government clarified that the exercise is not deforestation but a habitat management measure aimed at restoring the lake’s natural wetland character. It said the plan does not envisage blanket removal and instead provides for selective and need-based cutting aligned with ecological objectives.

The minister informed the House that the total estimated number of willow trees in and around the lake is between 19 and 21 lakh, and the removal is being carried out in a phased and strategic manner based on management requirements.

The government said the tree removal has generated approximately Rs 31.95 crore in revenue so far, which has been deposited under government receipts in accordance with financial rules.

On compensatory measures, it said more than 19 lakh plants have been raised in the Wular catchment since the establishment of the Wular Conservation and Management Authority in 2012.

In the Bandipora catchment alone, over 2,900 hectares have been treated through afforestation, plantation and soil conservation works to stabilise slopes, control erosion and reduce sediment flow into the lake as part of the overall restoration plan, the government added.