JAGATSINGHPUR: Casuarina trees in coastal Balikuda and Erasama areas have dried up with the rise in temperature and fast depleting ground water level. Casuarina plantations had come up in several acres of land in both the blocks in Jagatsinghpur district after the 1999 Super Cyclone.
Ground water level in the blocks have receded by two to three metres within the last fortnight and rivers Hansua and Alaka that flow in Erasama and Balikuda have dried up completely.
After the Super Cyclone, casuarina plantation was taken up by the State Government on a massive scale along these rivers to check wind velocity and reduce damage during natural calamities.
A few years back, casuarina trees were planted in Padampur, Gadaharishpur, Siali and other coastal villages of Erasama to prevent sea water from entering the villages during tidal surge.Environmentalists said casuarina trees use a lot of water from the soil and as the ground water level has gone down, the trees are not getting sufficient water.
Under these circumstances, the needle-like leaves of the trees droop to eliminate loss of moisture, they added. Forester of Kujang Pratap Mohanty said due to intense heatwave and depletion of ground water, casuarina trees have dried up in Paradip and Erasama.