Bhubaneswar: In the current financial year, the Ministry of Forests and Environment in Odisha is moving towards an important step towards enhancing public safety and environmental protection, the Ministry of Forests and Environment in Odisha has announced a new plan to plant palm trees (locally known as taala gachha) worth Rs 6 crore.
The decision was shared on Saturday by Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, who highlighted the government’s commitment to protecting life while fostering ecological health.
In the media, Minister Kuntiya stressed the crucial role of palm trees in reducing the risk of lightning strikes.
“Palm trees are natural lightning conductors. They help disperse charges during thunderstorms, thus reducing the likelihood of casualties,” the minister explained. “To effectively address this risk, we are strengthening plantations in lightning-prone areas in the state.”
The minister recalled that in June 2015, the state government formally declared a specific disaster of lightning. In a related measure last year, the government must obtain permission before cutting palm trees, even on private land, before cutting them.
“This is not the first time the government has adopted such a plantation,” Coutia noted. “Last year, we set a goal to plant 2 million palm trees, and we successfully achieved that goal. In this regard, we have now decided to invest between Rs 5 to 6 crore to expand the plan.”
The minister called the work not only a driving force for plantations, but also a life-saving mission designed to reduce thunder and lightning-related deaths, especially in rural and semi-urban areas where people are more exposed during thunderstorms.
The department will identify vulnerable areas (including open farmland, rural suburbs and highways) for large-scale plantations. In addition to being a security measure, trees are expected to enhance ecological balance and provide long-term environmental benefits.
The initiative is part of the Odisha government’s broader strategy to combat climate change, minimize human wildlife conflicts and protect communities from natural disasters.
