Green belt to be destroyed to build town hall
Green belt to be destroyed to build town hall
A green belt created more than a decade ago through the joint efforts of NCC cadets and NSS volunteers of Khariar College and Forest Department in the Khariar Range is going to be destroyed to give way for building a concrete structure in the premises of Khariar Autonomous College
Termed as a “deemed forest”, which forms part of the Belgarh Forest Block with a total of about 32 acres of green belt inside Khariar town, it will be cleared for construction of a town hall as Principal Adviser to Chief Minister and Chairman of Western Odisha Development Council Asit Tripathy has already laid the foundation-stone of a Rs 9.8-crore town hall-cum-auditorium in the college premises on Thursday last. The town hall will be constructed by destroying four thousand trees in about three acres of college land.
Dr Fanindam Deo, former Principal of this college, in a letter to Asit Tripathy, has requested not to disturb the biodiversity. "As a man of Khariar, I am very happy that the foundation-stone for a modern town hall was laid down. The entire credit goes to you. It will fulfil the urgent need of the locality. But let me honestly inform you that not a single staff member including the Principal is happy, especially NSS and NCC members who were in pain," he has stated and mentioned that the forest was created in that plot to develop the barren land with big rain cuts.
"In the year 2010, a SWOT analysis was done to identify Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of the Khariar college and a Master Plan was prepared for development of the land," stated Dr Deo.
“Out of 28.53 acres of land owned by the college, four acres has been dedicated for forest development. It is a place of attraction for the students, especially of the department of botany. The students now are enjoying the benefit in terms of beauty of the canopy and biodiversity due to efforts done by students and teachers in the past," said a teacher. Plantation with various other measures like small check-dams had been taken up by NSS, NCC volunteers. The Khariar Forest Division came forward later with financial assistance and watch and ward. As a result of such endivour, 100% trees survived. It attracted the attention of KBK Commissioner, Chief Conservator of Forest, RDC, Higher Education Secretary in the past and all of them appreciated it as an example.
"The Belgarh Forest Block including the forest inside the Khariar college has turned vergin due to high humus content. Natural germination of many tree species including sandalwood is marked," said a forest official
One of the GB members of Khariar college has resigned from the committee alleging that the college has arbitrarily taken decisions on policy issues without even conducting a single GB meeting. Srikant Chatterjee, former IRS officer, expressing concern, has drawn attention of Asit Tripathy and district Collector Swadhadev Singh and has suggested an alternative site for construction of the town hall.
Many other sensible persons of Khariar have also expressed their resentment in social media over the move and hoped that the district administration, the WODC and the State Government would take consideration of such public feelings and shift the proposed town hall to an alternative site.
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