Many trees felled to widen Niyamgiri road

The Pioneer, Dec 7, 2009
PNS | Bhawanipatna

Cutting down of large number of tress in Niyamgiri Reserve Forest of Kalahandi district, for widening of a road has led to protests from the irate locals. The Topo sheet of the map clearly states that the road was meant for two-wheeler and four-wheelers and was eight feet-wide.

Investigations revealed that hundreds of trees were felled for widening the road from Kadamguda to Trilochanpur of Lanjigarh block which clearly measures around 20-30 feet. Locals informed The Pioneer that the trees were cut overnight few months back for widening the road which touches Niyamgiri hill top

The locals’ strong protest led to stopping of the felling of trees here, said a villager Arjun Chandi. However, the Forest Department and the district administration are yet to lay their hands on the culprits.

In 2008, MP Bhakta Charan Das had appraised the Conservator of Forests over phone about the incident. Besides, this matter was also appraised to the Union Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh. He is going to send a team to Lanjigarh to probe all the allegations.

Before this the Central Government has also sought a reply from the State Government. Sources said the State Government has already prepared the final report to be submitted to the Central team who would probe the matter. District Kalahandi RS Gopalan had visited Kadamguda village to take stock of situation. Sources said the Central team’s visit would find many loopholes during the probe.