The Odisha Krushak Mahasanga (OKM) has proposed to the State Government to grow mangrove forests of a half-km width along the coasts in order to protect living beings and properties from the wrath of cyclones.
“Thousands of people were killed in the cyclones that hit the Odisha coast on 1971 and 1999. Hundreds of people were also killed in the Cyclone Titili that hit the coast in 2018. Earlier to the Titli, Cyclones Hudhud and Phailin also caused huge devastations. Cyclones are causing huge devastations only due to loss of reserve and mangrove forests over the years due to construction of ports, urbanisation, hotels and large apartments on coasts,” remarked OKM president and former MLA Bibhudhendra Pratap Das in a letter sent to the Chief Secretary.
Das said while MLAs have been demanding for adoption of a policy for plantations along the coast for years, the Government is yet to respond to their proposal.
He mentioned that MLAs had submitted seven memorandums to the Government between January 1, 2001 and 2012. According to the proposal, private agencies need to be entrusted with the work of underrating coastal belt plantation work for which bank guarantees should be kept from them for five years.
They suggested that agencies would take of each plant for five years only when bank guarantees are kept from them.
“Mangrove forest bears importance as the roots of the trees bind each other grow to a big height. During cyclones, such trees only bent down and never break, and thus protect living being onthe land from the wrath of the cyclones,” pointed out Das.
Citing an example of how 400 people living on a small island surrounded by mangrove forests could be save, Das urged the Chief Secretary to adopt a special policy to undertake coastal belt plantation on a priority basis to protect lives and property of people and lives of wild animals.
Regarding the proposed Coastal Highway, Das said the highway should be constructed on a height above 18 feet so that it can break seawater from entering landmass during high tides caused by cyclones.
Das stressed that more staffs be appointed in different posts at all levels in the Forest Department to undertake forestation on a war-footing basis.