417 TREES CUT FOR B’NGIR-P’GARH ROAD WIDENING Friday, 08 April 2016 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

417 TREES CUT FOR B’NGIR-P’GARH ROAD WIDENING

Friday, 08 April 2016 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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A total of 417 trees of more than 30 years old on the Balangir-Patnagarh road under the Balangir Forest Division were felled for widening of the road on both sides.

This has caused concern among plant lovers here. It would take another 20 years for new trees to grow up to a standard height, locals said. The felled trees had been planted during 1960-70.

The Forest Department had given approval for cutting the trees. “As per the rules, the concerned executing agency has to carry out plantation 10 times the number of tress cut due to widening,” said a forest official.

The executing agency would carry out plantation of trees or through any NGO or agency like the OFDC, he added. He also said the agency would look after maintenance of the trees for 10 years.

Earlier, the compensatory afforestation was carried out by the department, but after a circular in 2014, the task is being done by some other agencies.