Kaptipada: As palm trees are said to protect people from lightning, some teachers and experts are on a mission mode to plant thousands of these trees in Kaptipada area of Mayurbhanj district.
Since lightning strikes have been on the rise in the district every year, experts are batting for saving palm trees in rural areas. Palm trees are a deterrent against the lightning strikes in any area, they said.
Keeping this in view, they launched Mission Tala (palm) recently in Kaptipada area. On the occasion, a book was also released. Teachers and experts deliberated on multiple uses of palm trees in rural areas – from building houses to firewood.
They also pointed out a scientific fact that palm trees usually attract lightning and absorb high volt electricity, thus ensuring safety of humans and animals. Besides, these trees cannot be destroyed by domestic animals. They grow to great heights naturally.
Teachers and experts urged the students, people and social activists to plant palm trees until they reach a target of 25,000 in Kaptipada. A seminar will also be organised September 14 to make people aware of the benefits of the palm trees.
Deforestation and loss of taller trees like palm, coconut and betel are being blamed for lightning casualties as the tall trees act as lightning conductors.
Some experts feel the dwindling number of palm trees in the countryside might have led to an increase in the number of deaths due to lightning strikes in the tribal-dominated district.
It is said that the high number of lightning casualties could have been lessened if more palm trees were planted.
Where palm trees exist, the number of deaths due to lightning strikes is lower than those in palm-less area, the experts claimed. Forwarding a similar argument, environmentalists claimed that palm trees act as natural lightning conductors during storms because of their height. Lightning are usually seen to hit the tallest object first. Besides, their roots also protect embankments against soil erosion, they added.
It may be mentioned here that last year the state government decided to revive the traditional practice of planting palm trees to deal with the issue of deaths caused by lightning every year. Approximately 500 lives are lost annually due to lightning in the state.
It was announced that palm tree plantations will come up along the forest boundaries on National and State Highways and in common land in coastal villages. The State Forest and Environment Department had issued instructions to all regional conservators of forests and divisional forest officers in this regard.
PNN