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Bhubaneswar: At a time when countries across the globe are putting stress on afforestation, concerns are being raised over the fate of Ekamrakanan Farm in the Capital city of Odisha as it is expected to face the wrath of commercialisation.
As per reports, the State Directorate of Horticulture, Krushi Bhawan, recently wrote a letter to the Assistant Director of Horticulture, Ekamrakanan directing him to surrender around 20 acres of land to the State General Administration department.
"It is to intimate that a decision has been taken by the Govt. for surrender of Ac 20.192 dec from Ekamrakanan farm to GA & PG Department excepting an area of AC 5.775 dec where there are buildings," read the official letter. (sic)
The letter has raised many eyebrows with locals questioning what the GA Department will do with over 20 acre of land.
Though the Assistant Director of Ekamrakanan, Jayant Kumar Nayak couldn't clarify the actual purpose behind GA department seeking surrender of the land, he opined that the government should not destroy the forest land.
"We have been informed that the government has already given approval and we have to handover 20.192 acre of land. There's a need to develop forest areas everywhere now; if the government has taken the decision for some larger interest, what can we do?" said Nayak.
Social activists and forest conservationists said that if the General Administration department of the State government will alienate 20 acres of land out of the 25 acres from the Ekamrakanan farm premises for construction, it will lead to a loss of around 3,500 fruit and medicinal trees.
As per environmentalists, Khordha district has only 15 per cent forest land as against the required 40 per cent. Besides, legal experts have opined that any commercial construction in the premises of Ekamrakanan will be in violation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
"No commercial work can be carried out in forest land as it will violate the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. And for any such purpose, an approval from the Centre is required," said layer and environmentalist, Shankar Pani.
"As far as we know, the government is planning to use the area for building apartment or for some other commercial purpose. We will protest against this move of the State government. We will also file a case in this regard with the National Green Tribunal (NGT)," said a local, Sushant Jena.
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