Bhubaneswar: As many as 721 trees have been cut for the construction of new government quarters in Bhubaneswar for Odisha MLAs, the state Assembly was informed on Tuesday.
Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia shared this information while replying to a question by BJD legislator Sarada Prasad Nayak. The MLA sought details on the extent of land being used for the project, the number of trees felled, and the compensatory measures taken by the government.
The Minister in his reply stated that the new MLA quarters will be built over an area of 6.54 hectares in the capital city.
To make up for the loss of green cover, the state government has undertaken compensatory afforestation by planting 4,000 trees each in Subudhipur and Madhupur. Similarly, steps have been taken for the plantation of 8,000 trees in Amrit Vidyapeetha, and 2,000 trees in Ghatikia, the Minister added in his answer.