OFDC faces flak over afforestation, blames funding gaps

Time of India

23-06-2025

Koraput: Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC), Jeypore division, is facing criticism over its compensatory afforestation drive, with data revealing a glaring gap between trees felled for infrastructure projects and those replanted.
Between 2015 and 2025, over 30,348 trees were felled for widening National Highways and PWD roads across the Jeypore and Malkangiri forest divisions. But OFDC planted only 33,585 saplings — well short of the mandated 60,696, which is double the number of trees cut. Major felling included 10,285 trees for PWD roads, 9,195 for the NH-326 stretch, and 10,701 under the Bharatmala project.
Despite receiving over Rs 10.56 crore from govt departments for tree felling and transportation, replantation and post-plantation care mandated under compensatory afforestation norms appear grossly inadequate, sources alleged.
OFDC divisional manager Soubhagya Anand acknowledged the shortfall, stating that many departments had failed to deposit the required funds for plantation. "We are continuously following up. Recently, the PWD Jeypore division deposited funds for 10,000 saplings, and plantation work will begin shortly," Anand said.
He added that the divisional forest office (DFO) is responsible for inspecting compensatory plantations and that the issue has been formally communicated to the concerned DFO.
Jeypore DFO Pratap Kumar Behara confirmed that departments are required to deposit funds both for felling and compensatory plantation. "Strict instructions are in place to ensure plantation funds are secured before any felling begins," Behara said.
Environmentalists warn that the govt's inadequate response is undermining efforts to restore green cover lost to infrastructure development. "It is unfortunate that century-old trees are being felled for road expansion, but no adequate compensation is being made. This has a direct negative impact on the region's climate," said Bidyut Mohanty, a Koraput-based environmentalist.