(a) whether many districts of Orissa on the coastline have been rendered treeless by the super cyclone of rare severity of 1999 causing serious ecological imbalance in the State;
(b) if so, the details thereof ; and
(c) the steps the Government have taken or proposed to be taken to maintain the ecological balance disturbed ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI BABU LAL MARANDI)
(a) & (b) As per Report of the Central Team on assessment
of damages due to cyclone of 1999 in Orissa, extensive
damage to Forests, wildlife & Environment had been caused in
the Super Cyclone of 29th October , 1999 and the Cyclone of
17the October, 1999. An estimated 90 million trees from the
coastal shelter belt plantations, reserve forest blocks,
village Woodlot plantations, roadside avenues, private and
government lands and village common lands, city plantations,
research garden and zoological parks and sanctuaries had
been uprooted or damaged.; About 95,750 hectares of forest
area comprising sal, teak and bamboo forests, village
woodlot plantations, mangrove forests and coastal wind-brake
plantations have been affected, besides loss of tree cover
from the cities and vast rural areas, including about 1500
kms on roadsides.
(c) The steps taken by the Government to maintain
ecological balance in the cyclone hit districts of Orissa by
allocating grants to the State Government of Orissa under
different schemes of this Ministry is given in the Annexure.
ANNEXURE - I
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN RESPECT OF PARTS (c) OF LOK SABHA QUESTION NO. 4370 FOR REPLY ON 21-08-2000.
(1) Integrated Afforestation & Eco-Development Scheme (IAEPS)
After the super cyclone of Orissa, the State Government
of Orissa submitted eight project proposals which have been
sanctioned during 1999-2000 under Integrated Afforestation
and Eco-Development Project Scheme (IAEPS) for 9th Plan
period at a total cost of Rs.1249.10 lakhs to treat 19500
ha. of degraded forest lands in Cyclone-hit districts of
Orissa. The details of the projects are given as under :-
(Area in hectares and Amount in Rupees)
Districts Total area Total cost
Cuttack 2800 196.61 Jajpur 1400 117.94 Mayurbhanj,Balas 2000 96.00 ore & Bhadrak Mayurbhanj 2000 96.00 Cuttack & Jajpur 3300 206.49 Keonjhar 2800 134.40 Ganjam 3000 214.28 Khurda 2200 187.38
Total 19500 1249.10
(Area in hectares and Amount in Rupees lakhs)
Districts Total area Total cost
Bhadrak 100 18.40 Balasore 400 73.58 Ganjam 500 91.97 Kendrapara 2500 463.89 Puri 2500 466.82 Jagatsinhgpur 2000 373.85
Total 8000 1488.51
Bhitarkanika - Rs.17.56 lakhs Mahanadi - Rs.26.50 lakhs
Subarnarekha - Rs.23.50 lakhs Devi - Rs.17.25 lakhs Dhamra - Rs.15.00 lakhs