Facing a massive public outcry, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday directed immediate halt to felling of trees to make way for a brewery in Dhenkanal district. The Chief Minister also ordered a probe by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner.
On Saturday, clashes broke out after the district administration aided by armed police force personnel cut down around 500 sal trees in Jhinkargadi forest, which has been protected by the villagers of Balarampur since 1972. The police also forcibly removed women who clung on to the trees to protect them from being felled. Lathi-wielding police personnel chased away the villagers from the forest.
The villagers on Sunday resolved to continue their movement till the government dropped the plan to acquire the forestland for the ₹102 crore-brewery project to be established by P&A Bottles. “The forest has been a critical source of our livelihood and other needs. We will not let anybody take away the precious trees,” said Sushanta Kumar Dhala, secretary, Balarampur Gramya Parichalana Parishad.
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In a bid to further establish the villagers’ hold over the forest, the BGPP has decided to undertake a plantation drive in the 12 acres of the forestland which was cleared for the ₹102 crore-brewery project to be established by P&A Bottles.
Social activist and Green Nobel winner Prafulla Samantra, who visited the area on Sunday, said the government should reassess its priorities. “The government must clarify its position if it wants alcoholism to grow in rural Odisha or leave villagers to live in peace with nature,” he said.
“The government has not learnt its lessons from the Niyamgiri fiasco. A mighty corporate house had to retreat as tribals preferred to stay with rich forest resources. People’s voice should not be muzzled,” said Chandranath Dani, a human rights activist, who also rushed to the spot on Sunday.
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