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Feeling the heat, literally

Staff Reporter

Big trees have fallen victim of cyclones and urbanisation. And the effect is more profound during summer

BERHAMPUR: Lack of big trees in the city and on its outskirts has added to the woes of people during summer. According to social activist Bhagaban Sahu, the number of big trees has gone down by more than 70 per cent during the last few decades. Most of the ancient trees were uprooted during the cyclone that hit the area in 1994 and the super cyclone in 1999. Urbanisation has also led to felling of a large number of trees.

Four big trees used to provide shade to waiting passengers near the railway station. They were cut down a few months ago to increase parking space. There was a time when people used to rest under six big `peepul' and banyan trees on the Berhampur court premises. Now, only two trees remain. Widening of NH 217 and NH 5 also led to cutting down of big trees. Chairman of the BDA Sarat Ranjan Patnaik said that the civic body passed a resolution to plant neem and Kusuma trees in the city. Some 20 lakhs were earmarked for the endeavour.

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