Sundargarh: The second phase of the Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project (OFSDP-II) is underway in 31 Van Surakhya Samitis (VSSs) of Ujalpur range of Sundargarh forest division with the aim of restoring degraded forests, protecting the existing ones, and improving the quality of life of the families who depend on the forest. Wide awareness is being created through Forest Protection Committees on behalf of this project to reduce dependence on forests and find alternative livelihoods. A mega awareness programme on forest and environment protection and tree plantation programme by Shramdan was organised July 7 by Katra-Budabahal VSS of Ujalpur forest range on the eve of Van Mahotsav-2023.
At first Sundargarh DFO Pradeep Mirase highlighted the objectives of the Van Mahotsav and presented various programmes being run by Sundargarh forest division. He made everyone take an oath to protect our precious national assets — ‘forests’. Sundargarh zilla parishad president Kunti Pradhan joined the programme as the chief guest and opined that our precious forest resources can be protected through collective unity and cooperation. Joining as the guest of honour, Sadar MLA Kusum Tette called upon women to take the lead in protecting the precious national asset as women are deeply involved with forests and the environment. Tete said that every tree is the abode of lord Jagannath as trees are needed to build his idol. Damodar Dehuria, superintendent engineer (Research) of Sundargarh Irrigation department attended as the guest of honor and stressed taking tree plantation as an addiction and continuing efforts for its care.
In this context, 500 fuel and fodder varieties of saplings were planted by members of Katra-Budabahal VSS in a land adjacent to the rural forest through Shramadan and another 500 saplings will be planted within the next week, said the president of the VSS Basanta Pruseth. Digambar Upadhyay, team leader of Ujalpur field management unit coordinated the programme and gave a detailed presentation of the various programs running under OFSDP-II. Upadhyay informed that the “Memorable Plantation Campaign” has been started at the VSS level of the Ujalpur field management unit during Van Mahotsav-2023. It is an innovative initiative by which people will be sensitised from village to village to plant one tree on different important occasions like childbirth, birthday, wedding anniversary, death anniversary etc. Ujalpur forest range officer Premsagar Naik, foresters Hembati Singh and Santosini Sahani, forest guard Chandni Dehuria, Meghdega PS member Kumudini Majhi, youth leader Sanjeev Singh and Mitravanu Seth joined the programme as other guests.
On this occasion, P-NGO team leader Digambar Upadhyay, and development officers Haripriya Naik and Manoranjan Mallick were specially felicitated on behalf of Budabahal VSS for their continuous support and guidance in every work at the VSS level. The programme was orgnised by Basant Pruseth, Madan Mohan Delki, Sushma Bhoi, Jina Badhek, Ganesh Naik, Raviratna Bhoi and women of different Self Help Groups (SHGs).