The State Government has plans to create mangrove forest on 720 hectares to counter cyclones in coastal districts.
Replying to a question from Alekh Kumar Jena (BJD) in the State Assembly on Tuesday, Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray said that mangrove forest is seen in Balasore, Bhadrak, Rajnagar and Puri forest divisions.
Stating that mangrove forests are created under different programmes, the Minister said work in this regard has been taken up in Kendrapara district under the Integrated Coastal Zonal Management Plan (ICZMP) and MGNREGS.
Mangrove forest will be created on 347 hectares in Kendrapara district.
Routray said mangrove forest will be created under Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project on 153 hectares and 100 hectares in Balasore and Bhadrak districts, respectively.
Funds from the compensatory afforestation scheme will be utilised for mangrove forest on 80 hectares in Jagatsinghpur district.
Similarly, in Puri district, mangrove forest will be raised on 40 hectares under the Central plan, he said.