Strict Action Against Unauthorized Cutting of Palm Trees in Odisha.The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has directed the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment to plant palm trees and take strict action against those cutting them without permission. Following this directive, the forest department is also planning to implement similar measures with immediate effect.
This year, the forest department aims to plant 1.9 million palm trees across the state. This initiative is part of Odisha government’s scientific strategy to reduce the risk of lightning strikes, which have claimed 1,500 lives over the past five years. Experts indicate that most lightning deaths occur in rural areas, accounting for 90% of the fatalities, compared to 10% in urban areas.
Palm trees have historically served as life-saving “sanjibani” in coastal Odisha. However, the devastating 1999 cyclone and subsequent storms have destroyed large numbers of palm trees in the districts of Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Cuttack, Baleswar, Bhadrak, and Ganjam. The lack of recovery efforts has increased the threat to people’s lives. 
Urbanization has also contributed to the disappearance of palm trees, leading to more direct lightning strikes to the ground. Many lives are lost due to lightning during the noon and evening hours, and the number of injuries is also significant. Experts note that lightning predominantly strikes canopy trees, such as palm and coconut trees, emphasizing the importance of their presence for safety.
