Although the government is taking up tree plantation activities for protecting the environment, there is a protest against such plantation drives from some villagers.
One such instance of the protest is reported from Pokhanaguda village of Aunli panchayat in Borigumma block, where the forest department has started planting trees.
However, villagers have protested against the activity as they say that plantation of trees will adversely affect their living and source of income.
As per reports, tree plantation activities are being carried out in nearly 30 acres of open land. Villagers say that this open area is utilized for grazing the cattle and planting trees means losing their only grazing land.
Further, it was emphasized by villagers that the land plays an important role in meeting their basic needs from cattle rearing to other livelihood sources. Also, the neighboring area has dense forest cover. Further plantation will increase the density of forest and hence wild animals will come.
There are instances of bears walking around in the village and people are scared of going out in early mornings and late evenings. The women collect kendu leaves from forests and hence they are afraid of the activity.
The villagers have made approaches to the district administration demanding relocation of the plantation. But they say that despite all negotiations, nothing concrete has happened and the process of planting continues as before.
It has been threatened that if their demands are not fulfilled, then they will protest outside the office of forest department at Jeypore. It is also clear that agitation can turn violent if the issue is left unsettled.
Although plantation of trees is important from the point of view of environmental conservation, yet the major problem that still stands unanswered is the relation between environment and local residents’ survival and security.
