Sambalpur: The elephant corridor in Sambalpur forest division is going to face massive damage due to a solar project. About 40,000 valuable trees will be chopped off to make space for the project, a report said.
According to the report, The elephant corridor spreads over areas like Beladunguri, Niladunguri and Kutarajuri, which are part of the proposed solar project.
On one hand, the forest department is spending crores of rupees for safety and protection of forest and elephant, this project will deal a blow to the efforts, it was alleged.
The forest department has granted permission for the project while tree counting has begun. However, some locals were worried over this project and warned of agitation.
Till date, 25,000 trees have been identified. An official of the forest department said that there are 40,000 trees, including valuable trees, sal, piashal, gambhari, jackfruit, mango, neem, asna, and khair in the land earmarked for land acquisition.
Most of these trees have grown over decades. Bamboo plants are aplenty on the land. Elephants are usually fond of bamboo leaves.
This area plays a favourable host to the elephants. Meanwhile, the process has started to acquire 500 acres of land. IDCO had in fact initiated the land acquisition process in 2018. For the last few days, the forest department and the revenue department have been routinely carrying out survey for trees.
Locals and some environmentalists have expressed concern over this development.
The land is under the revenue department. But the area has been made dense with trees planted by the forest department.
Locals alleged that the local Vana Surakhya Samiti and gram sabha had not been taken into confidence before the tree felling.
Jujumara tehsildar Suman Minj said the land acquisition process was started two years ago. This place is not human settlement, but elephants reside there.
Padiabahal range officer Prabhakar Behera said that the forest department has initiated the process of identifying tress to be cut down. About 25,000 trees have been identified till date, he added.
PNN