Expressing grave concern over the unabated felling of trees in various jungles of the State, the Odisha Krushak Mahasangha (OKM) has urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take immediate measures in this regard so that the livelihoods of about 1.1 crore people and lives of endangered animals can be protected.
“Every day trees worth Rs 5 crore are being stolen from different jungles of Odisha. If this illegal trend is not stopped at the earliest, forests will be vanished soon and over 1.10 crore, ST, SC and other people dependent on forest produce sale will lose their livelihood forever. Besides, wild animals and birds will be vanished,” stated OKM president Bibhudendra Pratap Das in a letter to the Chief Minister.
Das mentioned in the letter that due to continuous illegal tree failing by forest mafias wild animals, particularly elephants, are entering human habitations and eating up crops, increasing man-animal conflicts day by day. “As many as 660 farmers have died in jumbo attacks in the last 10 years. During this period, 685 elephants have died. Of them, more than 50 per cent have been killed,” said Das.
Das, a former MlA, also expressed anguish that despite repeated requests and suggestions, the Government has not taken exemplary actions to check the illegal tree felling trend. He informed the Chief Minster that though former Forest Minister Bijayshree Routarya had directed concerned officers to implement OKM suggestions, yet no steps have taken. “Forest officers are not taking any interest to protect forest resources and wildlife, the reason better know to them. Hence, you should intervene and take drastic steps in this regard soon,” urged Das.
He suggested that Government officers and private persons who inform about illegal tree felling be given 30 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, of theft materials as incentives. Similarly, those who would inform about poachers may be awarded with cash award between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. The name of the informer should be kept secret. Similarly, a 24 hour anti-poacher squad should be pressed into service in all wildlife forests, he suggested.