Bhubaneswar: Satyabrata Sahu, ACS Forest, Environment and Climate Change and SRC has asked the Divisional Forest Officers (DFO) to go for massive Palm Tree Plantation in their respective Forest Divisions.
ACS Shri Sahu said that it has been decided that the Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change plans to undertake massive Palm Tree plantation drive along the notified forest block boundaries during the next planting seasons i.e. 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Funding will be sources from Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA).
Palm trees have multiple benefits. It acts as a lightening arrester alongside securing the forest block boundaries. It will also provide fodder to wild animals, especially elephants, said Sri Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, FE&CC and Special Relief Commissioner, Odisha.
It was decided in the recently held State level DFO Conference in the presence of FE&CC Minister Pradip Kumar Amat after thorough discussions.
The human-elephant conflict will be lowered after the completion of plantation drive.
There are 4479 notified forest blocks with 39,671 Sq. Km of boundary lines.
The total number of boundary pillars in these forest blocks comes to 4,80,207.
It is proposed to plant four Palm trees near each boundary pillar along the forest block boundary.
Around 19 lakhs Palm trees will be planted with cost of nearly Rs.7.5 crores.
