Dharhokusum, a village inside Debrigarh forest situated in Bargarh district close to Hirakud reservoir, has been declared as a ‘green village’. The Forest department and district administration declared it a green village for the smooth movement of wild animals and to give them an independent and free atmosphere. The Forest department has shifted some villages out of the forest to create more space and habitat for the wild animals. The Forest Department is taking every care of the village and its inhabitants and constructed 48 numbers of quality toilets for every family to discourage open defecation and thereby curb any kind of contamination of wild animals, DFO (Wildlife) Anshu Pragyan Das said.
“At the same time, dustbins have been provided to all 48 families so that they will not throw garbage haphazardly,” Das said. “Since deer are coming in large numbers close to Dharhokusum village to graze on grass and leaves, we are making all-out efforts to keep the surroundings of the village totally clean and pollution free,” the DFO said. These entire apart, solar street lights have been installed in the village and each family were provided smokeless chullas for cooking with less fuel.