Odisha government had drawn up a plan to plant 24 lakh trees during the coming monsoon season

Bhubaneswar:15/5/19: Odisha government had drawn up a plan to plant 24 lakh trees during the coming monsoon season in a bid to compensate the loss of green cover following the impact of May 3 cyclone ‘Fani’.

The plantation for regeneration of trees will begin once the monsoon season begins in cyclone-ravaged pockets. Special emphasis is being paid for the regeneration of tress in the capital city of Bhubaneswar. The plantation work requires Rs 20.72 crore. The nine-member inter-ministerial panel which is now visiting Odisha to assess the damage due to cyclone has been submitted detailed project report regarding the regeneration of green cover, said senior officials.

With cyclone ‘Fani’ virtually wiping out its green cover, Bhubaneswar conferred the coveted smartest city tag will never be same again.

The infrastructure loss that cyclone caused may be compensated. But reviving the lush-green blanket that adorned the bustling capital of the eastern state prior to May 3 is a daunting task to achieve.

The city with its rows of street-side trees was providing green ambience. It is being widely believed that the lush-green environs had led the union government to confer the no.-1 rank among country’s smart cities. But that has become a thing of past. Nature’s fury dealt mighty blow ripping apart the green surroundings.

Exact number of trees that cyclone uprooted yet to be enumerated. However unofficial estimate puts the tree loss to the tune of ten lakhs. It’s the city’s fall from grace, induced by nature.