Pressurized by green activists, Berhampur sees tree transplantation drive

Berhampur: The Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) has come up with a tree transplantation drive following massive protests by the nature lovers and Sabuja Vahini members over cutting of trees for widening of roads.
The silk city had reportedly lost a significant amount of its green cover because of the city expansion drive that involved widening of roads, underground cabling and sewage works.

The change in the approach of the city administration was a result of intervention and protests by nature lovers and members of the Sabuja Vahini.

Sabuja Vahini advisor, Banamali Pradhan said, "We requested the BeMC to uproot the trees and replant it at other places as cutting of trees will result in environmental problems."

P Arvind Kumar Desibehera, a social worker said, "The tree transplantation drive will allow the city to have surplus oxygen and help us resolve environment issues."

The trees uprooted from various places are being replanted in Berhampur City High School ground and Nilakantheswar cremation ground, and the members of the Sabuja Vahini also lent a helping hand in the transplantation drive.

On the other hand, BeMC commissioner Chakravarti Singh Rathore said that the corporation will join forest department and Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) in renovation and development of parks, roadside gardens along with carrying out tree plantation drives in the city.

"We are planning to plant trees in front of all the 50-60 community or public toilets in the city. On the whole, we have planned to plant around 2000-3000 trees this year," said Rathore.