Anjan Kumar Samal
1000 trees cut down to make helipad for PM Modi’s visit at Bolangir in Odisha did spark controversy
<a data-snax-placeholder="Source" class="snax-figure-source" href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/modis-odisha-visit-hundreds-of-trees-felled-to-make-space-for-pms-helipad/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://indianexpress.com/article/india/modis-odisha-visit-hundreds-of-trees-felled-to-make-space-for-pms-helipad/</a>
When the entire world is struggling to restore the Nature’s paradise ,at the same time India seems forgets restoring many plant species.As many as 1000-1200 three years old trees which were grown upto 6-8 feet long planted by Forest department under urban plantation scheme in Bolangir Dist of Odisha were illegally deforested without taking any prior permission from the concerned Forest Department for making temporary Helipad for the Prime Minister’s Visit on 15th January 2019.
A dispute arose in the recent past due to the cutting of trees to prepare temporary helipad two days before the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on to Balangir district. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Balangir Sameer Satpathy said that in order to prepare temporary helipad without prior permission, many trees have been cut in the district near the railway station ground. In this regard, orders have been given to investigate.
<a data-snax-placeholder="Source" class="snax-figure-source" href="https://www.rniindia.com/modis-bolangir-visit-trees-cut-down-for-helipad-dfo-orders-probe" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.rniindia.com/modis-bolangir-visit-trees-cut-down-for-helipad-dfo-orders-probe</a>
At the same time, Union Petroleum Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan claimed that those who are scared of the visit of the Prime Minister are running false campaign misusing the forest officials.
Significantly, Dharmendra Pradhan hails from Odisha, but at present he is a Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh.
Permission required from railway before cutting trees
It is claimed that 1,000 trees were cut in the western Odisha town of Balangir.These trees were planted on 2.25 hectares of land under the Urban Plantation Program in Indian Railways in 2016. To make helipad, 1.25 hectare of land where thousands of trees were planted, have been cut down. According to the rules, there is a need to take permission from the Railways before cutting these trees including forest department, but nothing like this has been done here.
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A dispute arose on last Sunday due to the cutting of trees to prepare temporary helipad two days before the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Balangir district. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Balangir Sameer Satpathy said that in order to prepare temporary helipad without prior permission, many trees have been cut in the district near the railway station ground. In this regard, orders have been given to investigate.
At the same time, Union Petroleum Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan claimed that those who are scared of the visit of the Prime Minister are running false campaign while misusing the forest officials.Significantly, Dharmendra Pradhan’s relationship is from Odisha, but at present he is a Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh.
In this case, the railway says that it was necessary to cut trees immediately with the view of the security of the Prime Minister. That’s why it was done.
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Significantly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited Balangir in Odisha on January 15. During the visit of Balangir, PM Modi addressed BJP’s Swabhiman rally. At the same time PM Modi also showed the green flag on the opening of Khurda-Balangir railway line.
It’s absolutely not the fault of the Prime Minister but in fact it’s the fault of Prime Minister’s office and concerned departments.The Real fault also lied on the Odisha State Chief Minister including the Forest Departments and Railway Departments.The National Green Tribunal should look into the matter soon . Last but not the least is that , Petroleum Minister of India, Dharmendrs Pradhan is the real fault holder because he was in charge of this PM’s Visit to Odisha.
<a data-snax-placeholder="Source" class="snax-figure-source" href="https://thelogicalindian.com/news/trees-fell-modi-visit/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://thelogicalindian.com/news/trees-fell-modi-visit/</a>
But unfortunately which mouse will be ready to tie the ring the Cat
