Plantation drive hits a roadblock in Srikakulam

Srikakulam: Plantation of palm and casuarina saplings along the seacoast has been remained on papers for the last three years.

With an aim to prevent damage caused due to strong gales, the forest department officials proposed to plant saplings following directions from the then District Collector P Laxminarasimham in 2016.

Srikakulam has 193 kilometres length of seacoast and it is vulnerable for cyclones every year from October to December.

In 2013 Phailin and in 2014 Hudhud cyclones caused huge damage to cashew and coconut plantations besides thousands of houses damaged along the seacoast villages.

For prevention of such damage, officials proposed to plant palm and casuarina saplings in 20 lines along the seacoast. These trees will reduce velocity of gales and helps in reducing damage.

During the cyclone, gales reported at 160 kilometers speed per hour and causing unimaginable damage. In 2016, the district collector also proposed to allot funds for plantation drive under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

The forest officials also decided to plant these saplings in reserve forest and revenue lands also along the seacoast and they have sent a proposal for allotment of revenue lands for the purpose.

For all along the coast in Srikakulam, a total of 20 lakh casuarina saplings and 10 lakh palm saplings are required as per forest officials' estimations.

However, the proposals remained on papers and the people experienced huge damage due to Titli cyclone in 2018.

The residents of coastal villages are now worrying over coming October to December months by remembering the devastation caused by previous cyclones.

"At present, there is no action plan for plantation drive in coastal belt and we will verify old proposals made by the then district collector and take a decision as per the directions of higher officials," stated district in-charge forest officer G Laxman to The Hans India.