Now, tree felling for Capital Hospital expansion in Bhubaneswar draws locals' ire

Even as the controversy surrounding cutting down of trees in Bhubaneswar to make the way for multi-storey buildings for MLAs has not died down, yet another row has erupted over felling of hundreds of trees in the city for the expansion of the Capital Hospital. 

Despite several protests by the environmentalists and nature lovers in the Capital City, the State government seems to be unperturbed as many old and valuable trees have been chopped down again for the hospital extension work.

According to sources, the trees are being cut down as per the permission and direct supervision of Odisha Forest Development Corporation. The development has irked the nature lovers across the Capital city again.

“The old trees which have been chopped are mostly neem and jackfruit trees. The logs of the trees have been loaded in trucks and those will be supplied to different places for different purposes,” said a man who has been engaged for the transportation of tree logs.

Meanwhile, the denizens of Bhubaneswar have expressed their resentment over the move.

“Due to the thick green cover, this area feels cool even in the scorching summer. The government should not have felled these old and valuable trees. Development activities should be planned keeping the greenery of the city intact,” said a septuagenarian residing in the area.

Notable, a couple of weeks back, a group of environmentalists and nature lovers attached to the ‘Mahanadi Banchao Andolan’ forum had staged demonstrations in the city in protest against cutting down of trees for construction of MLA quarters.