Kendrapada, Nov 8: It seems as if the Mangrove cover are happy now with the fact that Odisha’s CM will be visiting Paradip on Nov 13 to inaugurate the Baliyatra. It’s stated that the Paradip Port Trust officials have deprived of five acres of Mangrove forest near Nehru Bungalow, the Mahanadi river mouth and on the fishing harbour for security reasons and also for getting a clear view of the area. The forest range officer of Kujang, Pratap Chandra Mohanty said that the PPT officials are not supposed to cut the forests. Last year, they did so without taking any permission from the concerned department. But recently the same thing was repeated and so stern action will be taken against them. He further went on to say that the felling of the mangrove forest may spell doom for the area. Saline water of the sea and tidal waves will affect the shores. These trees provide a formidable natural barrier against cyclones and storm surges and play an important part in stabilising the shoreline. The denudation of mangrove forest has sparked resentment among the environmentalists and locals.
To this, the deputy chairman of Paradip Port Trust (PPT) N Vaiyapuri said that the pruning of the mangrove trees near the Nehru Bungalow have been carried out just for the visit of the chief minister as the mangrove trees gave an unhindered view of the bungalow from the approach road and no mangrove tree has been chopped off.
Notably, the Paradip Port was been made in the late 60’s which destroyed 4,000 hectares of mangrove forests. The area was rich in eco-diversity once upon a time but now mangrove only exists near the Mahanadi river mouth, Kaudia river bank and near fishing harbour. This was informed by Sudhanshu Parida who is an environmentalist.
