26 Lakh Trees Cut for Projects in Odisha Between 2000-2023

Bhubaneswar: More than 26 lakh trees have been cut down for different projects in Odisha between 2000 and 2023, said state Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia in the Assembly.

Answering a question put by MLA Prashant Jagdev, the Minister said that a total of 26,75,191 trees have been cleared from forest land between 2000 and 2023 for the execution of 482 projects.

Out of them, 9,64,063 trees were felled for mining activities, 5,99,690 trees for roads, 4,89,423 trees for irrigation, 82,076 trees for railway lines, 1,39,439 trees for power supply, 3,00,759 trees for industries, and 99,741 trees for other purposes, informed the minister.