Forest Officers Duo Committed to Promote Rayagada Forest Park-Lungs of the Town
Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, March 11: Paucity of money has not deterred the enthusiasm and commitment of two forest officers namely Sri Anil Ray and Sri Prabhakar Senapati.During year 2017 the theme of an “Eco Park” was conceptualized by the then district collector and divisional forest officer(DFO) of Rayagada and carried forward by Ray and Senapati, who were forest range officers at that time. The abandoned railway dumping yard near Royat Colony-Anjiapeta junction, which was mainly used for open defecation by migrant labourers, was identified for the purpose. After consent from the department of railways and in the presence of the Assistant Divisional Engineer, Rayagada Railways, the then Collector, SP and DFO jointly inaugurated the project. So, the rumour of demolishing the entire park because of a new Railway Division at Rayagada does not hold good.
To make it a model in entire Odisha, though a plan & budget of Rs. one crore was proposed, the funds could not be mobillised for different reasons. Only Rs.31 lakhs could be mobillised form govt though there is rumour that crores of rupees have been spent. As the saying goes: if there is a will, there is way: the officer duo could mobillise materials like tiles and stones from the local philanthropists for laying roads for ease of the commuters. “There is plan to install a light & sound system with provision of a LCD screen depicting the pre & post conditions of the this 7-acres park and raising awareness of the public about methodologies of conserving forest resources. But paucity of funds is an hindrance”, said Senapati, who is officiating as Asstt Conservator of Forest(ACF), Rayagada.
“To add on to the amusement of children & youth we have been able to include provisions like archery, basketball targeting, dat-board and music club apart from a small water way for the children and adolescents. These provisions are meant to explore the hidden talents of the locals. This place has become a tourist hub of visitors not only from nook and corner of Rayagada districts but also adjacent districts of Odisha and states like Andhra Pradesh & Chhattisgarh. Due to aesthetic greenery and creation of a sound micro-climate at the heart of the town, several Ollywood movies and albums have been picturized”, according to Ray, who works as ACF in neighbouring Kalahandi district and virtually provides inputs for further landscaping and progress of the park even in holidays sparing very little time for his family.
It is hardly three years that around three thousand ornamental plants including forest species make the forest park look lush green. The reality check of the statements of this officer duo is reflected in the Google review. Out of 5 stars, it has got 4.2. “I am gladly impressed when for the first time I was visiting the Forest Park. I got a Karaoke singing opportunity on the stage. I thank all the staff of forest department and the organizer”, wrote Anjan Naik in the Google Review. Writes Pravasini Behera: Nice place… If you want to relax your mind, you should visit definitely. Great work done by Rayagada Forest Deptt. A great place for nature lovers. All other social media like facebook, instagram and twitter have all the praise for this urban jungle with a difference. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests(PCCF) during a virtual meeting of all DFOs of the state has applauded the effort of the Rayagada forest department and asked to follow the model in their division.
Though the forest park was inaugurated on 1st February 2019 and in spite of a year long closure due to Covid pandemic, the income till end of February, 2021 is Rs.19, 44, 541. And this is just the income for one year. Interestingly, the park gives direct employment to six persons and indirect employment to scores of persons engaged with petty business in and around the park. Fortunately the employees of the park retained their jobs in spite of the pandemic while many labourers were fired elsewhere. On top of this, incentives have been given to a Vana Sangrakhyan Samiti(VSS) from the income of the park to encourage the communities for forest conservation and protection. Thus, the park has become self-sustainable.
“The lighting systems need to be developed inside the park. Rajya Sabha MP Sri N Bhaskar Rao has been very kind to assist through MPLAD. The light and sound system is yet to be established. The boundary needs to be heightened and barb-wired to check unscrupulous elements creeping inside. When one puts in sincere efforts, rumour mongerers also crop in. But they are few. The applause by visitors and senior officials instills a sense of achievement and acts like propelling force to get even more committed to the cause”, said Ray.
According to Sri Ajay Rath, Convenor of District Citizen’s Forum, the forest park could be accomplished due to the technical strategy of professional persons like Ray and Senapati. Their efforts must be appreciated by the state apart from optimum funding to the project.
