Mangrove cover axed for CM Naveen Patnaik's visit

KENDRAPARA: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik's scheduled visit to Paradip on November 13 to inaugurate the Baliyatra has proved dear for the mangrove cover.
The officials of the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) have allegedly denuded around five acres of mangrove forest near Nehru Bungalow, the Mahandi river mouth and on the fishing harbour for security reasons and for getting a clear view of the area.
"The officials of PPT have no right to cut or prune the mangrove trees.Last year, the port officials had chopped off hundreds of mangrove trees in Paradip without obtaining any permission from the forest department. We had filed a case against the port officials for the same," said forest range officer of Kujang, Pratap Chandra Mohanty. "But they have yet again cut the mangrove recently. We will take stern legal action against them," he said.
The felling of the mangrove forest may spell doom for the area. Saline water of the sea and tidal waves will affect the shores, he said. These trees provide a formidable natural barrier against cyclones and storm surges and play an important part in stabilising the shoreline, added the forest officer. The denudation of mangrove forest has sparked resentment among the environmentalists and locals.
When contacted, deputy chairman of Paradip Port Trust (PPT) N Vaiyapuri said, "We only pruned mangrove trees near the Nehru Bungalow for the visit of the chief minister. We have not chopped off any mangrove. It gave an unhindered view of the Nehru Bungalow from the approach road." The Paradip port was constructed in the late '60s destroying 4,000 hectares of mangrove forests. The area was rich in eco-diversity. Now mangrove only exists near the Mahanadi river mouth, Kaudia river bank and near fishing harbour, said Sudhanshu Parida, an environmentalist.