LIVE TV
Odisha
Recommended Stories
Bhubaneswar: The forest department's proposal to demarcate the boundary of Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara has sparked an outcry, with the legislators of the ruling-BJD seeking intervention of Assembly Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro to direct the concerned minister to rethink the decision.
On Sunday, as the Assembly proceedings were underway, three BJD MLAs from Kendrapara district Pratap Deb, Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Dhruba Sahu raised the issue during Zero Hour and highlighted the 'negative' impact the fresh demarcation is likely to have on the people of nearby areas.
The MLAs cited that the local public representatives have not been consulted by the forest department about the re-demarcation plan for Bhitarkanika, the second largest mangrove ecosystem in the country. Moreover, lakhs of people living in the adjoining areas of the sanctuary would face problems as their localities now fall within the new demarcated zone, the MLAs stated.
Expressing concerns over the fresh boundary demarcation, Aul MLA Pratap Deb said, "The government is planning to expand the demarcated zone without holding any talks with the locals of Mahakalpada, Rajnagar, Aul and Rajkanika blocks. People were not informed nor any suggestion was taken from any of the representatives prior to the decision. We oppose the 2017 report in this regard prepared by the forest department and the then Collector."
Dhruba Sahu, BJD MLA from Rajnagar said, "Speaker SN Patro should direct the government as well as the forest environment minister to rethink the re-demarcation plan. After the issue was raised, the Speaker in a ruling asked the concerned minister to form a committee comprising local representatives and discuss the hindrances it poses, before proceeding further."
"Lives and livelihood of so many people in Rajnagar, Mahakalpada and Aul blocks will be severely affected if the forest department goes ahead with the demarcation plan," said Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Mahakalpada MLA.
READ | Eco Retreat Festival At Bhitarkanika, Hirakud From December 1
