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A proposed road expansion in Puri’s Talabania locality triggered public outcry on Monday as 72 large trees face imminent felling. Local environmentalists and social activists are urging authorities to consider tree relocation or integration into infrastructure, citing past success in similar projects.
Also Read: Over 26.75 lakh trees felled in Odisha for development in last 23 years
According to sources, as many as 72 large trees in the Talabania locality of the Puri pilgrimage town have been marked and numbered for cutting to facilitate a road expansion project. This has sparked concerns among environmentalists and social activists, who are urging authorities to adopt alternative methods such as tree relocation or integrating the mature trees as natural dividers along the new roads.
The identified large trees are Krushnachuda (Delonix regia), Banyan (Ficus benghalensis), Ashwatha (Peepal or Ficus religiosa), Baula (Bakul or Spanish cherry), and Neem (Azadirachta indica), many of which have been growing for over 20 to 30 years. These trees not only provide shelter and shade to pedestrians but also contribute significantly to the town’s oxygen levels and biodiversity.
Activists argue that trees are life-givers and should not be sacrificed for infrastructure projects. They cite the examples from Sainitala-Bolangir and Mayurjhalia-Subalia-Nayagarh roads, where over 700 trees were successfully transplanted instead of being cut down. They urge similar consideration in Puri to preserve the environment.
Though the road expansion is deemed necessary due to Puri’s increasing population and the high influx of visitors during the world-famous Rath Yatra and other festivals, environmental advocates insist that development and ecological preservation can coexist.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has marked the trees but has yet to secure official permission from the Forest Department, which is required before any felling can begin. Forest officials stated that no formal request has been received yet, and any action would depend on a joint survey.
Activists have warned of stronger protests if the trees are cut without exploring relocation. They stress the need for a survey to identify which trees are fit for relocation and propose using them innovatively as dividers within the expanded roadway.
This delicate issue underscores the growing conflict between rapid urban development and environmental conservation in heritage towns like Puri.
“The State government and district administration are not thinking of alternatives to the felling of trees. We welcome urbanisation and development, but at the same time, we should also think of our environment,” a local environmentalist, Badri Mishra, expressed.
“First nature, then development,” another nature lover, Sanjeev Mohanty, stated.
