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Forests facing threat

BERHAMPUR: Rising demand of charcoal in urban areas like Berhampur is proving to be dangerous for nearby forests.

The gullible tribals are being misguided to earn meagre earnings through sell of charcoal.

According to Chadradhwaja Sahu, the former sarpanch of the Lathi village on the outskirts of the city, charcoal gets collected from tribals through special agents. The collected charcoal gets transported to city hidden in trucks and bullock carts. At times it also gets transported on cycles. The middlemen gain much in this charcoal trading. Ten bags of charcoal collected from tribals by paying Rs.1,000 fetches Rs. 10,000 in city market.

On Thursday the forest officials seized large amount of charcoal getting transported into the city. A bullock cart owner was arrested. Berhampur forest ranger, Dayanidhi Tripathy accepted that large amount of charcoal was getting transported into the city. For it tribals were burning down trees in forests near Kankia, Tamana and Mahuri Kalua. A large tree burnt for charcoal fetches only a few hundred rupees for the tribals but it causes huge loss to the forest, he said.

The demand for charcoal has increased in the city due to increase in the number of fast food units where it is used for grilling as the charcoals provide a steady temperature .

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