As many as 1,50,075 trees have been felled by the Idco in the proposed Posco project area near Paradip, informed Forests and Environment Minister Bikram Arukh in the Assembly on Tuesday.
Stating that the Kujang (Wildlife) Range Officer furnished this information, Arukh said there were 2,90,087 trees in the area as per a count. The felled trees had been planted before the year 1999.
Besides, he informed that 1,260 hectares of land has been identified for taking up compensatory plantation against 1,253 hectares. By now, compensatory forestation has been taken up on 56.96 hectares of land in the Mangrove Forest Division, Rajnagar and on 745 hectares of land in Cuttack Forest Davison, the Minister informed in a written reply to a question put by Congress member Naba Das.