The troposphere of present Dhenkanal revenue district comprising of about 5,000 square km, includes the previous Dhenkanal Gadazat and Hindol Gadazat. The climate of the biological complex is influenced by two major rivers such as the Mahanadi and the Brahmani.
Although the river Mahanadi does not pass through this revenue district, and passes through adjoining Angul and Cuttack districts, the river stream influences the biological climate of south-eastern and south-western climate of Dhenkanal, encompassing the former Hindol State and Saptasajya land mass. Similarly, the north-eastern portion of the district is influenced by the river Brahmani and it bears tropical hill forests.
The whole district comprises tropical Sal and other species. Several streams of rivulets and water channels originate from the entire hill region of the district which criss-cross the district and are the sources of water of the region. The whole geographical complex comprises variable bio-diversities of flora and fauna. A large number of herbivores, carnivores, reptiles, amphibians, birds of residential and migratory types adorn the land and promote the scenic beauty of the whole landscape. The major forests include Anantapur forest blocks, Kapilash forest blocks and Saptasajya forest of evergreen and semi-evergreen deciduous forests. A few decades back, these hill stations were summer resorts of eastern region of the State. But due to mismanagement of the entire ecological resources of the district, the old glory is no more to be found. The repeated hacking on forest resources by unscrupulous timber traders, besides forest fires, encroachment of forest lands, faulty management of forests, inadequate protection of forest resources and mining have downgraded the ecological status of the region for which the entire rocky crust of the region is exposed to sun and the day- to-day temperature is increasing and also has become unbearable for the residents.
The process will continue, unless the people actively cooperate and manage the forests and forest resources jointly with the administration. At present the atmospheric temperature of the region has gone up to 40 degree Celsius where it is difficult for the living organisms of the tract to survive. The writer is associated with the environment of the region since childhood and also served a considerable period in this district under Government assignment. The climate of the region has completely changed for which the so-called civilized people are entirely responsible. Unless the people of the locality are involved in the protection and management of eco-systems of the region, the forest resources cannot be useful for national welfare.
At present this aspect has been well understood by the youngsters of Dhenkanal town. Now under the leadership of social activist Prasant Kumar Mishra and young environmentalist Saroj Satpathy, a forum has been organised entitled as Prakruti Surakhya Manch for protection of denuded hills of Dhenkanal town, which have become the cause of rising temperature of the region. The rock-crusts of the region are well exposed as the forest covers of the hills are cut and removed. Moreover, the annual fires in the forest blocks worsen the topographical conditions of the region. Again the district is a potential area of Kendu leaf. Since the Kendu leaf trade was nationalized, the natural forest covers are lost and the land is denuded. Kendu tree is an evergreen tree, which provides protection to soil against erosion and actively participates in conservation of soil as well as of atmospheric moisture to ameliorate the climatic temperature. The Kendu leave trade now has become a major cause of forest fire, which can be stopped if the local people are involved for carrying out protection and conservation of forest resources and also for scientific management of forest wealth. Now the people of the region have understood that the hills and the forests are the sources of water and instrument for management for local and regional climate.
The forest officials, as informed, in connivance with local mafia, are carrying out tree felling within the region in spite of objections of the local people, who are in favour of protection of natural forests. The people of Kankadahad region generally are forest dwellers and entirely depend for their livelihood on forest resources. The local peasants were getting organic manures from local forests to fertilize their agricultural lands to maintain their livelihoods, but t massive tree felling accelerates soil erosion and run-off of organic manures from the hill regions, which deprives these poor of proper cultivation of the land. Not only is the tree felling going on in Dhenkanal Forest Division, but also such type of exploitations of trees are now going on in other forest divisions of the State by the State Forest Corporation. The forest corporation is also exploiting the standing trees in Bonai and Redhakhol divisions.
Anantapur, Kapilash, Saptasajya, Hindol reserve forests are very rich in biodiversities. Due to loss of habitats and deterioration of natural spaces, the population of large herbivores like elephants, gaurs (Bisons) Nilagai etc is gradually depleting and the conflict between man and animal has become a common affair. Similarly, these areas were very much famous for big cats, like Royal Bengal Tigers and leopards. But they have also lost their importance due to loss of habitats and habits of the carnivores. The conflict between man and leopard is a common instance of these circles.
Due to exploitation of timbers and other forest resources beyond the carrying capacity of the ecological hubs, nearly 72 kinds of orchids of different varieties of colours and foliages which were once available in this area, are no more seen. The tourists, especially the botanists and florists and nature lovers, were frequenting this land very often for cultural study and enjoyments but this is no longer happening now as the region has lost its status. The Anantapur reserve forests adjoin geographically to Dandadhar dam of Dhenkanal district. Similarly the famous Nagada village of Sukinda is situated very close to these areas.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)