Bhubaneswar, Jan. 13: Eighty-eight old trees have been felled to make room for a high-end banquet hall at the Governor's House.

The public works department (PWD) had been assigned the task to construct a banquet hall at the governor's official residence, which is spread over 50 acres. To build the banquet, PWD officials identified a patch of land that was home to 88 trees. Many of these trees had been there from the beginning of the five-decade old Governor's House.

The PWD had sought permission from the forest and environment department to fell the trees. Once the approval was issued, Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC) was tasked with the job to cut down the trees<>.

"We got permission from the forest department to cut 42 forest trees and 46 coconut trees at the Governor's House. We have cleared the land," said an OFDC official, requesting anonymity. The Governor House also paid Rs 2.37 lakh to the OFDC for the job.

Environmentalists here have questioned the felling of trees in such a large number. "Such activities have always contributed to global warming. It is true that we need development. But, the authorities have no right to cut down so many trees in the name of development," said environmentalist Bimal Tripathy.

The Governor's House is known for its ornamental garden and greenery. It has lush green lawns, two rose gardens, a cactus house and flowerbeds, besides two gardens for medicinal herbs and a kitchen garden.

Known for its variety of trees, the garden was selected as the best among all central and state government offices in Bhubaneswar in 2008.

"It is shocking to know that the authorities have felled so many trees at the Governor's House. On one hand, they are promoting green business, while cutting down old trees at the same time," said Unit II resident Chirag Ranjan Parida.

PWD officials told The Telegraph that the Rs 14.64 crore banquet hall would be used to organise meetings and parties. Earlier, these were organised in temporary tents on the gardens. The two-storey hall will come up on 25,000sqft.

"The land was cleared inside the Governor's House and we have already started work on the building. We hope to complete it by June next year. The facility will be used for multiple purposes, including organising parties and official meetings," said the works department's executive engineer D.B. Behera.

Another senior PWD official said the Governor's House has been here for more than five decades. "Old trees and gardens surround the Governor's House. Any such project will need clearing of some trees. We had identified the land where cutting down trees didn't hamper the environment. We took permission and got the job done," said the official.

In times of global warming, was it necessary to fell trees in such large numbers for a banquet? Send in your response to ttodisha@abp.in