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SRINAGAR: The stately and dignified chinar tree, the symbol of Kashmir is vanishing fast from the land scape and mountains of occupied Kashmir due to neglect by both the public and the puppet state government.

Chinar tree which the famous Kashmiri poetess, saint Lal Ded compared to a good spouse and describe by the moghals as a "royal tree" is nearing extinction.

A census being carried out by the Chinar Development Office (CDO), of the Floriculture Department in the valley has made some startling revelations. The number of Chinars, which in 1970 stood at 42000 has now dropped to 14695. The number of Chinars within Srinagar Municipal limits, which was 5,000 in 1985 census, has now dropped to 3,906. Around 54 Chinars are dry and 65 in semi-arid condition, the report added.

Similarly, the number of Chinars in Islamabad has declined to 6,230. At Baramulla and Kupwara these have come down to 3,578, and 3346 respectively. And in Budgam they are only 35 in number. The census in Pulwama is still under process, but according to the Chinar Development Officer, the number of Chinars in the district may be approximately 600.