Bhubaneswar,13 Jan. 2019: A petition was filed with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against illegal felling of trees in Railway Ground in Bolangir district for the construction of a helipad for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on January 15.
Samajwadi Party Odisha State Committee filed the petition with the green tribunal over the alleged cutting down of more 35oo trees and requested to take necessary action.
In the petition, the party stated that Bolangir DFO took up the plantation programme under Urban Plantation scheme on the Railway Ground by spending around Rs 10 lakhs in 2016-17 financial year. The said trees were of 6 to 7 ft height.
The felling of the trees is illegal and detrimental to the environment of Bolangir. The district is situated in the hot climatic zone and during the summer season the climate remains hotter in comparison to other districts, the petition further stated.
The parting demanded an inquiry into the illegal feeling of trees and punishment against officials responsible for such irresponsible action.
Prasanta Patnaik