Cong, BJP demand probe into felling of trees for brewery

The Opposition Congress and the BJP on Saturday demanded the Odisha government to order an impartial probe into the "illegal" tree felling exercise to facilitate the setting up of a brewery in Dhenkanal district.

The issue was discussed through an adjournment motion in the House where members, cutting across party lines, expressed concern over the felling of a large number of Sal trees for construction of a beer bottling plant near Balrampur village in Dhenkanal district.

Terming the exercise as "illegal", the Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress said the state government cannot lease out land with Sal trees to IDCO (Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation) and the government agency in turn cannot lease it out to the company.

"It is a clear case of illegality committed by the state government," Mishra said adding that the villagers' protest against tree felling was also ignored by the government officials and police.

He said a case has already been filed with the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The incident also shows an "unholy nexus" between IDCO, forest officials, contractor and the company, Mishra alleged asking the government to recover price of the timber from the officials responsible.

He also asked the government to withdraw criminal cases filed against the villagers who protested the incident.

BJP leader K V Singhdeo said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was to blame as he had laid the foundation stone of the brewery project.

"You (CM) did not stop the officials when they were cutting trees. You only ordered stop of tree felling after they were cut," Singhdeo said.

Stating that the forest was a natural habitat of the elephants, the BJP leader said that the forest secretary had opposed the tree felling but his opposition was overlooked by the officials of te Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

"Is it not the CMO that pushed for the bottling plant," Singhdeo asked demanding an impartial inquiry into the matter.

Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray said the chief minister has already ordered the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Northen Division, to probe into the matter.

"The government has taken steps as soon as it came to know about tree felling. The government will undertake plantation in the area where trees have been cut," the minister said.

Routray also told the House that the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Dhenkanal, had ordered felling of trees near Balarampur village on August 24.

He said the IDCO has allotted 12.05 acres of barren land to P&A Bottler to set up the brewery.

The IDCO CGM had sought the permission from the DFO on June 30 for felling of trees for the proposed plant, while the latter on August 24 had given the order to cut down the trees over 10.59 acres of land. There were a total of 956 small and big trees over that 10,59 acre of land, the minister said.