The firewood extracted from 20 lakh trees which were uprooted last year in the wake of Fani Cyclone in Odisha’s Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary will be used for running the kitchen of Lord Jagannath temple in Puri.
The Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife of the Union Environment Ministry in a recent meeting also allowed the State forest officials to use a portion of the 18 lakh quintals of wood from the 20-lakh damaged trees at a crematorium at Swargadwar, Puri and households situated around the wildlife habitat besides the temple.
As per provision of Section 29 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, salvaged firewood will be handedover among 6355 households situated around the sanctuary for their bonafide needs as per the estimation of total requirement of firewood per annum made by the DFO, Puri(Wildl Life ) Division.
Surplus firewood, if any, after distribution among the EDC members, was proposed to be supplied to Swargadwar, Puri for cremation purpose and to the kitchen of Lord Jagannath Temple through the Odisha Forest Development Corporation on payment of royalty.
At a meeting held here, the Board members agreed for removal of FANI uprooted/damaged trees from the sanctuary after the State Government expressed apprehension that they were not only fire hazardous but also hinder movement of wild animals.
It pointed out that they need to be cleared to create space for re-afforestion, meadow development and for free movement of protection staff and rescue teams.
The extremely severe cyclonic storm that ravaged Odisha on May 3 last year had severe impact on Balukhand- Konark Wildlife Sanctuary where a large number of trees were uprooted and damaged.
However, the Board members rejected the State Government’s proposal to sell the salvaged firewood in open market through the ODFC.
The Board said that the royalty amount so realized shall be utilized for cleaning of sanctuary area and other developmental works in the sanctuary. The State has also been asked to prepare a scheme for undertaking post FANI rehabilitation works in the sanctuary in conformity with the Sanctuary Management Plan.