Trees for Cyclone Fani-Affected Area

Cyclone Fani, with a wind speed of about 175 kilometres per hour, was the second-most powerful cyclone to have hit Odisha in early May 2019. Total damage in Odisha was estimated at Rs. 12,000 crores (US$1.74 billion), mostly in property damage and the relief. According to an article published in India Today, “More than 10 million trees were uprooted with an equal number of trees damaged in the extremely severe cyclone. The figure may rise as forest officials are yet to receive the complete report on the damage to the forest cover in Puri. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Sandip Tripathy told The Express that around 50 percent trees have been uprooted while the crown of the remaining half damaged in Balukhanda sanctuary. The sanctuary was home to around 90 lakh trees. "The damage to green cover is so massive that it will take at least a decade for its revival. We will recommend the State Government to launch a special project for Balukhand for the restoration of the damaged forest," the PCCF said. "Now, our main task will be to ensure re-plantation of the uprooted trees to revive the green cover," said Tripathy.”