Over 26.75 lakh trees felled in Odisha for development in last 23 years

Trees have the biggest potential to mitigate global heating and climate crisis. However, in Odisha, they have become the first victims of development.

In a shocking news, a staggering 26, 75,000 trees were felled in the last 23 years in Odisha for development purposes.

For the construction of a total of 428 projects in Odisha, as many as 26, 75, 028 trees were felled during the tenure of the previous Naveen Patnaik government during 2000-2023, informed Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia in State Assembly on Tuesday.

“Highest amount of trees were felled in the State for providing electricity services and undertaking mining activities. While 13, 09,439 trees were felled for providing electricity services, 9, 64,063 trees were cut for undertaking mining activities. Similarly, around six lakh trees have been felled for road expansion work. While 6,89,000 trees were felled due to various irrigation projects, more than three lakh trees were cut for setting up industries. Several old and huge trees were felled for development work during the tenure of the previous government,” said Khuntia.

Many environmentalists have expressed their concern over the fact.

“It’s quite unfortunate that so many trees were felled on the pretext of development activities in the State. We are destroying more trees than we are growing every year. We are rather destroying ourselves by felling trees on the pretext of development,” said environmentalist Jaykrushna Panigrahi.
 
He continued, “We all know the impact of felling trees on global warming and climate change. It’s high time that we should realize it and spread green cover around us to improve our environment to lead healthy lives.”