TNI Bureau: The proposed bus stand project in Baripada has sparked serious concern over large-scale tree felling, with environmentalists and local residents warning of long-term ecological damage. While official estimates state that 1,789 trees will be cut for the project, environmental observers claim the actual number could exceed 5,000 if trees with a standard girth of 30 cm are counted as per prescribed norms.

Activists argue that while infrastructure development is important, it should not come at the cost of environmental conservation. They have stressed the need to strike a balance between urban growth and the protection of green cover, particularly in a town that has already witnessed significant loss of its urban forest.

Although compensatory afforestation — planting three trees for every tree felled — has been proposed, concerns have been raised over its effectiveness. Environmentalists point out that the planned plantations are likely to be located far away from Baripada, which would fail to compensate for the loss of mature trees within the town.

Several decades-old and large trees have already been cut, intensifying fears that more trees may be removed as the project progresses and related development activities begin. Experts warn that the removal of mature trees could worsen environmental conditions, especially during summer when Baripada increasingly experiences high temperatures.

The controversy has also highlighted the contradiction between large-scale tree plantation campaigns and the clearing of urban green spaces for development. Environmentalists question whether such initiatives hold meaning if existing urban forests continue to be sacrificed.

With the debate intensifying, concerns remain over whether the new bus stand, built at the cost of extensive tree felling, could pose a long-term environmental risk for Baripada.