The Odisha Nari Samaj (ONS) has demanded that the State Government ban plantation of eucalyptus trees and create awareness in this regard as these trees consume 90 litres of water a day. Notably, the Karnataka High Court had asked the Karnataka Government to consider banning of eucalyptus plantations across the State, though the latter has banned the plantation on Government land in Malnad and semi-Malnad areas with immediate effect this year. Threatening to stage agitation in demand of ban on eucalyptus plantation across the State, ONS Spokesperson Karmi Besra said “Undivided Koraput districts, besides other West and North districts of Odisha, have too much of this water-sucking eucalyptus just to feed the paper mills”. If the Government does not put ban on the plantation, Odisha would soon be exposed to the danger of losing rich ground water, she said, adding that stern punishment should also enforced for those defying the order.