Odisha: CM Naveen Patnaik halts tree cutting after women use ‘Chipko’ tactics

“Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik issued an order on Sunday to stop the cutting down of trees in Balarampur area of Dhenkanal. He has also asked the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC-Northern Division) to conduct an inquiry into the incident,” an official told PTI. 

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday ordered authorities to stop cutting trees at Dhenkanal district’s Jhinkargadi forest, a day after locals from the nearby Balrampur village resorted to “Chipko movement”-like tactics to halt the felling of trees.

According to sources, 13 villages in the area have been tense over allotment of the land for a beer bottling company. On Saturday, police had to drag away the women, who, in a replay of Chipko movement of the 1970s, stood hugging trees identified for cutting.

On Sunday, PTI quoted a CMO official as saying, “Patnaik issued an order on Sunday to stop the cutting down of trees in Balarampur area of Dhenkanal. He has also asked the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC-Northern Division) to conduct an inquiry into the incident.” Dhenkanal Collector Nikhil Pavan Kalyan and SP Santosh Kumar Nayak did not respond to requests for comment.