Paradip, Nov. 24: The port trust authorities are in the dock for carrying out unlawful deforestation exercise and felling of trees, including mangrove species.

Trees are being cut to create space for infrastructure development projects. Cargo storage plots would come up at the deforested area, said an official of the Paradip Port Trust (PPT). Taking exception to the deforestation activities that came into light earlier this month, the state forest department stalled the tree felling exercise along the seaside mangrove cover near the Nehru bungalow.

"We have stopped the felling of trees as it is being done in an illegal manner. Earlier this year, the port authorities had committed a similar act. A case under Section-27 under Orissa Forest Act, 1972, had been registered against PPT then. As the port authority is found to have committed a repeated offence, a fresh case would be registered against them and we would seek for issuance of non-bailable warrant against port officials who ordered for the clearance of trees," said Pratap Chandra Mohanty, the forest range officer of Kujang.

Though several days have passed since the forest department issued a show-cause notice, the port trust authorities are yet to reply to the charges levelled against them.

Mohanty said once they received the reply, necessary legal action would be initiated against port trust.

"The standing trees were classified-forest species. The port authority should have obtained prior permission before cutting down the trees. Forest clearance is mandatory before any form of deforestation activity even within the core area of the port. However, the port authorities have not obtained the required permission," said Mohanty.

"A probe has been conducted on the tree-felling incident. A similar probe was conducted earlier, following reports of tree felling from the port area. We are initiating legal measures to stop recurrence of such activities in the near future," said Bimal Prasanna Acharya, the divisional forest officer of Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division.

Forest clearance exercise was being carried out to construct a multiple cargo stockyard at the old CISF complex. The stockyard project formed a part of the ongoing expansion project of the port. As there is shortage of space at the operational stockyards at present, multiple stockyards have become imperative, keeping in view of the growth in traffic and cargo handling, said a port official.

After the CISF complex was shifted to Sandhakuda, the old complex comprising 100 acres of land is lying unused. The multiple stockyard project for stockpiling of ores and other goods is coming up at the said site with due approval obtained from the port trust board members and Union ministry of shipping.

The port authorities admitted that cutting down of trees without forest permission was a major mistake. But, it was committed inadvertently, they said.

The deputy chairman of PPT, N. Vaiyapuri, said: "The concerned department, which allegedly carried the tree-felling exercise has been directed not to do so in future without prior permission from the forest department. To make up the loss of tree cover, PPT would undertake compensatory afforestation activity in adjoining places. A surge protection seawall would also be built to plug the ingress of tidal waves."