While temperature has risen as high as 54 degree Celsius in Angul-Talcher industrial area due to unprecedented forest fire and coal burning, the Forest Department has started cutting down old trees, including neem, jamun and mangoes, in Angul Jail Road.
Activists including Swapna Sarangi, Parsuram Dash, N Panda and A Mishra, besides residents here, came together to protest against the inhuman activities of the Forest Department. They submitted a memorandum to the Collector to intervene.
The forest fire in the large part of 11 ranges of Angul Forest Division and Satkosia Wildlife Division has increased the temperature of the locality. Dense forests of Purunagarah, Raiguda, Durgapur, Chhendipada, Talcher, Kaniha, Pampasar, Purunakote, Tikarpada and Jilinda ranges are under severe fire and the Forest Department has failed to control it. Forest fires have exacerbated levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, thereby strengthening the greenhouse effect.
Similarly, the coal yards are under fire at several places of 16 MCl mines at Talcher creating heat and smoke. Each day, around 80,000 tonne of coal are burnt by the thermal power plants of Nalco and NTPC in the region which generates heat. Apart from it, a large quantity of municipal wastes is burning in the city. While all the burning effects increased the heat, instead of trying to control it, the authorities have concentrated on chopping trees.