Dhenkanal: Wild animals, the nature, the flower and fauna – all go a long way in maintaining ecological balance. However, most are ignorant about the contributions of nature and its other inhabitants to the environment. Hence plants and wild animals are felled mercilessly.
To imbibe the important role that wild animals play in the lives of human beings, a small-time businessman from this district has embarked on the mission to travel across India.
Dillip Sahu 38, hails from the small and sleepy Haladigundi village under Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal district and runs his business at Pallahara, a sub division in Angul district.
Dillip started his journey from Kamakhyanagar and reached Dhenkanal town Monday afternoon. He has designed his auto rickshaw with an elephant-shaped balloon and has donned the attire of a bear. Dhenkanal sub-collector Pitambar Samal and other officials met him and discussed about his mission and itinerary.
“The rapid industrialisation is spelling doom for jungles and along with it, its inhabitants,” said Dillip. “The people should be aware of the importance of co-existing with nature and wild animals. The forest department and state government officials and employees ought to be cautious in this regard,” he added.
Dillip was quick to point out that there were many who were opposing his mission. “There are some people with vested interests who are trying to stop me. Last Sunday when I was in a village under Pandua outpost limits a group of people confronted me and asked me why I was putting up an elephant-shaped balloon atop my auto rickshaw when these animals destroy crops and habitations. They thrashed me, but that will not deter me from my mission,” asserted Dillip.
PNN
