Tree felling controversy: Balasore collectorate construction sparks pollution norms debate

Balasore: The Balasore administration is facing criticism after visuals surfaced showing tree felling on the district collector’s office premises, allegedly in violation of pollution control norms. The work, undertaken to facilitate construction of an overhead water tank, was halted on Wednesday following public outrage.Official sources said the Balasore wildlife division had issued a formal work order permitting the removal of 30 enumerated trees from the collectorate office campus. The order allowed the felling of a casuarina tree, 25 eucalyptus trees, 2 radhachuda trees, a baula tree and a teak tree. The permission, addressed to the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC), Baripada division, stated that tree felling was required for the construction of an elevated storage reservoir (ESR) under a public drinking water supply project by the public health department.However, the felling of several old and mature trees by the contractor on the office campus triggered concerns among citizens and environmental activists. Many questioned how such activity was allowed within a key govt establishment at a time when the state has imposed strict restrictions to curb rising pollution levels across urban areas.The controversy intensified as the tree felling followed the demolition of an old building on the collectorate campus just a day earlier, despite pollution-related restrictions issued by the district administration. The back-to-back activities drew criticism, with many terming them a blatant violation of pollution control norms.Balasore collector Mayur Suryawanshi clarified that the department had obtained permission from the forest department for tree felling in Dec last year. “The contractor should have carried out the work during that period. When I received information about the cutting, I immediately discussed the matter with the public health department. Considering the current high AQI in Balasore, we have halted tree felling. Work will resume once AQI levels improve,” he said.