Keonjhar: Constant mining and road expansion in various parts of mineral-rich Keonjhar district have come together to create a deadly cocktail of pollution that is threatening to push the already fragile ecosystem in the area into further peril.
According to official sources, 30,502 old and valuable trees have been felled to make space for expansion of a 58 km stretch of the 168-km NH-215 from Panikoili in Jajpur to Rimuli.
Worse, thousands of trees are expected to be felled in the coming days for other road projects.
Locals and environmentalists have expressed grave concern over large-scale deforestation in the absence of any compensatory afforestation drive.
Despite awareness drives over protection of environment and forest, such environmentally damaging activities are still being carried out in various parts of the district, say environmentalists.
Over the years, the forest cover in the district has shrunk to a large extent due to rampant mining, industrialisation, building of roads and rail projects and dams while the timber mafia too has played a major role in the destruction of green cover, locals alleged.
On the other hand, crores of rupees go down the drain in the name of inconsequential afforestation drives. Plantations are being done amid forests, which has led to controversies at different times in the past. Success of the afforestation drives are only shown on paper, while in reality the situation is different, claim residents.
“The massive loss of green cover has acted as a catalyst for climate change in the district. We’re witnessing its impact, such as erratic rainfall, drought and rising temperatures,” said ecologists. Birds have also vanished from the area in thousands, as there are hardly any more large trees left along the roadside, lament locals.
They were of the view that if such a situation is allowed to continue, the district will soon be totally bereft of its forests. For expansion of the main road in the town, particularly from Jamunalia to Baliaguda, 402 old trees have been cleared. According to a rough estimate, mines and industries have damaged forests in over 30,000 hectares of land in the district.
It is alleged that crores of rupees deposited under Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds are not utilised to generate compensatory plantation in the areas where forests have suffered hugely.
Due to the ecocide, many streams have also become extinct, it is claimed.
Several residents have demanded that there is a need for effective initiatives to undertake massive plantation drives along the roadside and other areas and restoration of dying streams with funds from district mineral fund and CAMPA. PNN
