Srinagar, Oct. 19 -- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the proposed removal of mature Chinar trees for road-widening work in Ganderbal, saying saplings can not compensate for the loss of centuries-old heritage.

In a post on X, Mehbooba said a chinar takes generations to attain its full glory and questioned the argument that planting saplings elsewhere could make up for the removal of mature trees.

"A Chinar takes generations to reach its glory yet Omar Abdullah thinks saplings can compensate for felling these centuries old icons of Kashmir. You cannot replace centuries of heritage with a plantation drive!" she wrote.

Drawing a parallel with what she described as...