In a spirited discussion during the question hour in the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, both ruling and opposition members expressed deep concerns about the protection of biodiversity across various regions of the state.
Brahmagiri MLA Upasana Mohapatra raised alarms over illegal bird poaching in Satapada, where migratory birds of various species arrive during the winter season. Similarly, Bhograi MLA Gautam Buddha Das highlighted the declining population of red crabs in Talasari.
Mahakalpada MLA Durga Prasanna Nayak demanded the construction of watch towers in Gahirmatha to monitor olive ridley turtles, while Bargarh MLA Ashwini Sarangi called for the formation of a new forest division in her district. Rajnagar MLA Dhruba Charan Sahoo urged the government to halt illegal jetty and resort constructions in Bhitarkanika.
In supplementary questions, Congress legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam alleged illegal tree felling in the Koraput district and demanded more eco-tourism establishments there. Other MLAs also advocated for setting up eco-tourism centres in their respective areas.
Responding to these concerns, Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia advised the MLAs to submit their proposals in writing to the department. He stated that technical teams would conduct feasibility surveys, and if the sites are deemed suitable, the government would take appropriate steps. The minister informed the House that 51 eco-tourism projects have been established across 51 forest divisions in the state, out of which only 10 are profitable, while the rest are operating at a loss. Despite this, the government is prioritising tourism development, with Rs 80 crore spent last year and another Rs 80 crore allocated in the current supplementary budget.
Minister Khuntia assured that feasibility surveys would be conducted for the proposed sites, and the department would decide accordingly. He reiterated that while 51 eco-tourism sites exist, only 10 are running profitably, with the others incurring losses. Additionally, the minister committed in the House to taking steps for constructing high-quality watch towers at various tourist spots to enhance monitoring.
