Chhattisgarh News: In the dense forest area of Balak in Korba district of Chhattisgarh, the infestation of borer on Sal trees was increasing. Every possible effort was made to stop it, but success was not achieved. Finally, the departmental officials identified about 1200 trees that had been affected by the disease.
After continuous efforts of the officers, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has given permission to cut 923 trees. So far, the department has cut 497 trees. Soon the remaining trees which have completely dried up will be cut, so that the forest can be kept safe.
The infestation of borers was increasing in dry trees
If you are going from Balko towards Coffee Point, you will see a large number of dried Sal trees around Keshalpur. These trees are not dry just like that. Actually, the infestation of borers was increasing in the dried trees seen in the lush green forest. The rapidly increasing borer insect has given sleepless nights to the forest officers. The officers have prepared a plan to control the infestation of borers. According to the plan, the dried trees were counted.
could be completely finished
In which more than 1200 trees were marked. Medicine was also sprayed to destroy the borer insect. Those parts of the trees were blocked from where the borer insect had entered. Due to this, the ever-increasing borer was controlled, but it could not be completely eradicated.
Permission to cut trees has been granted
Concrete initiative was necessary to completely curb this. Therefore, in the year 2022-23, the then DFO of Korba Forest Division, Priyanka Pandey, prepared a proposal for cutting 923 trees and sent it to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. After continuous efforts of forest officers, the ministry has given permission to cut trees. Along with this, the forest department has also started cutting trees.
So far, 497 trees in the forest of Balko that were affected by the borer have been felled. It is being told that the felling of the remaining trees will be completed in the coming days, so that the sal trees planted inside the forest can be saved from the pest.
There is a huge tree in Satrenga and Matmar
According to experts, the age of a Sal tree is generally a thousand years, but there is a 1400 years old Sal tree in Satrenga of Korba Forest Division. Its height is 28 meters and circumference is 25 feet. It is considered to be the largest tree of this state. Similarly, the Sal tree of Matmar of Korba Forest Division is considered to be the second largest tree.
Two types of wood are being stored
It is being told that trees affected by borer have been cut in Keshalpur forest of Balko forest area. During this time two types of wood are being collected. Which includes firewood and timber. The department is sending firewood to Korba and timber to Kasaniya depot.
What is a borer
Borer is a type of insect which lays 300 to 500 eggs at a time. Sal borer appears on the tree after the monsoon ends and stays on the tree for a lifetime. 1500 insects eat up a green tree like weevils. The only way to get rid of borer is to cut down the tree, otherwise it spreads rapidly in the Sal tree.
Balco Forest Range Officer Jayant Sarkar said that 923 trees that had come under the grip of borer around Keshalpur were marked. After getting permission from the ministry, 497 trees have been cut. The remaining trees will also be cut.
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