Cuttack: More than 5,000 big trees will be felled for expansion of National Highway (NH) in Odisha’s Cuttack district.
According to sources, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has already started the expansion work of NH 55 from Cuttack to Nuagaon. As part of the project, already thousands of trees have been felled, depleting the green cover developed on the route a few years back.
As per the Forest department data, total 5,715 trees have been identified to be cut down on the road from Kandarpur to Machhgaon. It includes 2,498 trees in Biridi block.
Similarly, 1,375 trees on the left side of the road from Kandarpur to Basantpur and 1,141 trees on right side have been identified to be felled under the project. The trees are being cut down in presence of Forest officials, police and power distribution company officials on daily basis, the sources said.
The NHAI has taken up the work following demand for development of road from Cuttack to Jagatsinghpur district headquarters town. After completion of road construction work, saplings will be planted on both sides of the road to restore green cover, the sources said.
It may be noted that the area is known as a habitation of different species of birds. Hundreds of birds also flock to the place during winter as part of annual sojourn.
