Odisha fells nearly 1,000 old trees for beer factory

Bhubaneswar: The anti-liquor movement in Odisha further intensified after hundreds of villagers, including men, at Balarampur village under Sadar block in Dhenkanal district jostled with police protesting felling of trees in a nearby forest for establishment of a beer factory.

The incident took place when the Dhenkanal district administration began the process of tree felling to acquire land for the proposed liquor plant. Though police forces were deployed at the site, the villagers scuffled with the district officials and cops to stop the tree cutting process. Besides, the agitating women were also seen guarding the trees by wrapping their arms around the same. State finance and excise minister Sashi Bhusan Behera said the land allocated to a liquor company by IDCO for setting up of a beer factory. He assured that the government would plant triple the volume of trees

On Saturday morning, police and district collector visited the site for acquisition of land. After getting information, hundreds of men and women of the village rushed to the spot holding sticks to protest and had a face-off with the cops.

Later, the police detained 11 villagers from the spot to dispers the mob. Sources said the forest houses around 958 big trees of various species.