Plantation drive held at Sikharchandi Hills in Bhubaneswar

Days after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) panel report revealed that trees on 7.5 acres of land at Sikharchandi Hill were felled for a drinking water project without permission, voluntary organizations- Green Army and Sikharchandi Surakshya Samiti organised a massive plantation drive on the hill on Saturday.

According to sources, as many as 1000 saplings were planted atop the hill to maintain the biodiversity.

Besides, a foundation stone was laid for the construction of a memorial for ‘Paikas’, sources informed.

As per the belief, Goddess Sikharchandi is the presiding deity of the ‘Paika’ community and the members of the community used to seek blessings of the Goddess before going for a war.

“We have laid the foundation stone for the construction of a memorial of ‘Paikas’. I will narrate Sikharchandi’s connection with our community,” said Dillip Srichandan, chief of Green Army.

“We have taken the responsibility of maintaining the Sikharchandi Hill. We are united and will not allow the drinking water project in any manner,” senior Congress leader Sura Routray said.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the report submitted by the four-member committee comprising representatives of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Khordha district Collector and the chief conservator of forest, revealed that trees on seven-and-a-half acres of land were felled without obtaining permission from the DFO.