CDA to remove male paper mulberry trees to check pollen allergy

Islamabad

Capital Development Authority (CAA) had decided to remove all paper mulberry trees, which are causing pollen allergy in federal capital.

CDA decided to remove only those male paper mulberry trees which produce and shed pollen whereas the female trees termed harmless and would be retained. Enlistment of male paper mulberry has been started, said an official of CDA.

He said male paper mulberry was considered a major source of allergy which needed eradication but strong opposite views against the complete removal of this tree had also received from environmentalists.

He said removal of male tree would be taken up under gradual programme for replacing them with Amaltas, Kachnar, Jaman, Chir (pine) etc.

During the last two decades the civic agency chopped more than 40,000 paper mulberry trees. However, he said, approximately 60,000 trees were still growing in the capital territory particularly in the National Park area where removal of trees was not allowed. He said environmentalists were of the views that drastic cutting of the trees would result in the loss of greenery.

To a question, he said steps were being taken for ensuring the ban on the use of pollythene bags. He, however, said stopping the manufacturing of plastic bags did not come under the purview of the CDA. In 2013 the federal government imposed the ban on the use, manufacturing, import and sale of non-degradable plastic products in the federal capital.