NOTES ON PURI FOREST DIVISION, KHURDA
-------------------------------------
1. INTRODUCTION :-
Puri Division is one of the oldest Forest Divisions in
Orissa. It's creation dates back to 19th century. It
extends over Puri civil sub-division of Puri District,
Bhubaneswar and Khurda Civil Sub-Division of Puri District,
Bhubaneswar and Khurda civil Sub-Division of Khurda District,
Ranpur Tahasil (Nayagarh Civil Sub-division) of Nayagarh
District and part of Banki Sub-division of Cuttack District.
The Division comprises of 7 Ranges namely Khurda,
Bhubaneswar, Balukhand, Konark, Balugaon, Tangi & Ranpur.
The head-quarter of this Division is located at Khurda which
is about 25 kms away from Bhubaneswar. This division lies
between 19 degree 41' and 20 degree 26' North latitude and 84
degree 59' and 85 degree 56' East longitude. The total
geographical area under the Jurisdiction of this Forest
Division is 5644.00 sq.kms of which the area under forest is
1553.6886 sq.kms. This works out to 27.53 % of the gross
geographical area. Most of the Reserve Forest of this
Division were constituted between 1885-1911. The Reserve
forests are being managed according to the prescription of
the approved working plan. Besides the Reserve forests, the
forests in the east while Khurda Government & State were
declared as "Protected Forests" following the Revenue
settlement in the said Estate in 1872. They were managed in
accordance with a separate set of rules known as "Khurda
Protected Forest Rules" framed under section 32 of Indian
forest Act, 1972. These forests are burdened with rights of
the tenants of the area.
This forest division is located in the coastal
districts of Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh and Cuttack. It has
fairly high population density. The south eastern portion of
this Division comprises of steep and precipitous hills with
deep valleys. They contain valuable forest of Sal, Teak
alongwith other valuable flora and fauna. Such forests are
located in Banapur and Ranpur Ranges. The eastern side of
the Division along the coast of Bay of Bengal has casuarina
forests. The north-eastern and central parts of this
Division consists of scattered hills and undulated grounds
with extensive lateritic soil. Those areas are very much
denuded. They had been partially rehabilited to meet the
increased demand of forest produce.
2. FOREST AREA :-
Forest area under each category of forests in Puri
Division in sq.Kms are detailed below:-
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Category of Forest No.of Area Percentage to
Blocks geographical
total area
-------------------------------------------------------------
Reserve Forest 23 422.2486 7.48
Proposed Reserve Forest 26 54.1204 0.958
Demarcated Protected Forests 30 169.0359 2.99
Undemarcated Protected Forests 610.000 10.80
Unclassed Forests 1.369 0.11
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3. VEGETATION :-
The bounty of nature is depicted in the lush green
vegetation available in Balugaon and Ranpur Ranges of this
Division. The forests in the said locality are of economical
importance. Economically important species like Teak, Sal,
Bamboo & cane are available in this forest. The forests
under Balugaon Range provide an ideal habitat for a rare
animal "Flying Squirrel". Adequate population of Bison is
also available in this forest.
History of the forest division reveals that Teak
plantations were raised in this division during 1885.
Barunei forest adjoining to Khurda township was covered this
thick vegetation. Old Teak plantations were available in
this forest. With the growth of urban population in and
around Bhubaneswar, the forests of Barunei hills vanished in
the oblivion.
4.
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Name of C.D. Tahasil Sub- Revenue Police DRDA
Range Block Division Dist. Dist.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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Khurda Khurda,Bolagarh Khurda, Khurda Khurda Khurda Khurda
Begunia,Banki Begunia Banki Cuttack Cuttack Cuttack
Bolagarh
(Addl)
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Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar Khurda Khurda Khurda
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Ranpur Ranpur Ranpur Nayagarh Nayagarh Nayagarh Nayagarh
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tangi Tangi Tangi Khurda Khurda Khurda Khurda
(Addl) (Nayagarh) (Nayagarh)(Nayagarh)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balugaon Banpur Banpur Khurda Khurda Khurda Khurda
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Konark Nimapara,Pipili, Nimapara, Puri Puri Puri Puri
Astarang,Gop, Kakatpur,
Kakatpur, Pipili(P)
Balipatna Balipatna
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Balukhand Puri,Brahmagiri, Puri,Delang Puri Puri Puri Puri
Delang,Pipili(P) Sakhigopal,
Satyabadi,Kanas, Brahmagiri
Krishnaprasad
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5.
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Range Zila N.A.C./ Treasury M.L.A. M.P. Judiciary
Parishad Munici- Consti- Consti- Court
pality tuency tuency
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Khurda Khurda, Khurda Khurda Banki BBSR ADJ-Khurda
Cuttack (Sub-Tr) Khurda Cuttack SDJM-Khurda
Begunia JMFO-Khurda
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBSR BBSR BBSR BBSR BBSR BBSR DJ-Khurda at
Corp. BBSR
SDJM-BBSR
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ranpur Nayagarh Ranpur Ranpur BBSR JMFC-Ranpur
(Sub-Tr) ADJ-Nayagarh
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tangi Khurda -do- Khurda(P), -do- JMFC-Ranpur
Ranpur(P)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balugaon Khurda Banpur,NAC Banpur Balugaon BBSR(P) JMFC-Banpur
Balugaon,NAC Sub-Tr. Puri(P)
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Konark Puri Nimapada Pipili Puri(P) JMFC-Nimapara
Sub-Tr. Balipatna Jagatsin-
Kakatpur ghpur(P)
Nimapada
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Balukhand Puri Puri Puri Puri Puri Dist.Judge,Puri
Munici- Treasury Satyabadi SDJM-Puri
pality Brahmagiri
Pipili
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forest as per revenue record 147.9295 2.62
Area not recorded as forest but 148.9848 2.63
with forest growth.
---------- --------
1553.68886 27.528
---------- --------
6. ESTABLISHMENT
------------------------------------------------------------
Category Sanctioned Persons
Cadre Strength in Position
------------------------------------------------------------
a) D.F.O. 1 1
b) A.C.F. 3 4
c) Chief Instructor 1 1
Forester's Training School,
(A.C.F.)
d) Forest Ranger 10 8
e) Dy. Ranger 1 -
f) Forester 33 33
g) Forest Guard 202 183
h) Head Clerk 1 1
i) Steno 1 1
j) Jr.Accountant 2 2
k) Sr.Clerk 6 7
l) Jr.Clerk 21 21
m) Driver 4 4
n) Mali 3 3
o) Bunglow Choukidar 4 3
p) Office Choukidar 1 1
q) Dak runner 2 2
r) Orderly Peon 1 1
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7. DETAILS OF THE RANGES OF PURI DIVISION
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Sl. No. Name of the Range Name of the section
-------------------------------------------------------------
1. Khurda 1. Khurda (s)
2. Bolagarh
3. Banki
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2. Ranpur 1. Ranpur (s)
2. Betuli
3. Sankhajodi
4. Karadapalla
5. Gopalpur
-------------------------------------------------------------
3. Tangi 1. Tangi (s)
2. Patia
3. Nachuni
4. Bhusandpur
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4. Balugaon 1. Balugaon (s)
2. Padmapur
3. Berbera
4. Dhuanali
5. Sansireipur
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5. Bhubaneswar 1. Bhubaneswar(s)
2. Khandagiri
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6. Balukhand 1. Balukhand (s)
2. Balighai
3. Brahmagiri
4. Delanga
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7. Konark 1. Konark (s)
2. Sahan
3. Muhanmuha
4. Kakatpur
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8. FOREST ROADS OF PURI DIVISION
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Sl.No. Name of Road Range Length in Kms.
-------------------------------------------------------------
1. Salia-Balikanta Balugaon 5
2. Balikanta-Ankula 4
3. Balikanta-Baguda 4
4. Ankula-Rajini 10
5. Baguda-Bainsigoth 12
6. Rajini-Kriamba 13
7. Baguda-Rajini 13
8. Ankula-Baguda 6
9. Ankula-Dhuanali 11
10. Dhuanali-Ayatpur 8
11. Dhuanali-Raipada 5
12. Aranga-Bainsigoth 16
13. Saliadam-Berbera 7
14. Nachuni-Gachhapatra Tangi 14
15. Salia-Pitajhola 5
16. Kuhudi-Pitajhola 6
17. Nakithana-Patia 10
18. Patia-Gachhapatra 10
19. Patia-Gachhapatra 15
20. Sankhajodi-Raipada Ranpur 9
21. Betuli-Gachhapatra 6
22. Sankhajodi-Betuli 9
23. Jasodapur-Sankhajodi 14
24. Betuli-Dhuanali 8
25. Jamuganda-Raipada,Via-Sakatasal 4.2
26. Shankhajodi-Sirikuti 10
27. See view Road Balukhand 2.5
28. Jagannath Road 5.5
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Grand Total : 229.0 Kms.
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9. FOREST PROTECTION :
The forests of Balugaon, Ranpur and Tangi Ranges of
this Division are prone to illicit felling and organised
smuggling. The smuggled out timber normally pass through
Tangi, Khurda and Bhubaneswar town is the main consumption
centre of these timbers. For protection of the valuable
forests of Balugaon Range one company of C.R.P.F. has been
deployed with effect from 10.2.94. One section of A.P.R. is
also stationed at Tangi for protection of the Ranpur and
Tangi Range.
10. JOINT PROTECTION OF FOREST WITH C.R.P.F :
Berbera-Dhuanali forests of this Division are
considered to be the "Treasure Island" for their flora and
fauna diversities. Unfortunately during the last three
decades these valuable forests have been significantly
depleted due to organised theft and smuggling of timber. To
curb these activities, one company of C.R.P.F. was
introduced in Berbera-Dhuanali forests of Balugaon Range on
10th February 1994. There is a marked difference in the
status of forest growth after deployment of the C.R.P.F. as
rampant felling of trees by smugglers has remarkably has come
down.
10.Details of strenth of C.R.P.F.
---------------------------------
i) Officer commanding with one platoon at Berbera.
ii) Sub-Inspector with one platoon at Dhuanali.
iii) Sub-Inspector with one Platoon at Baguda.
Total strength - 76 numbers.
Position of sections at different stations.
------------------------------------------
A - 3 Sections - Berbera Station (Base Camp)
B - 2 Sections - Dhuanali Station
C - 2 Sections - Baguda Station
11. JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT :
Vana Saramkshyana Samiti (V.S.S.) for protection of
forests as per the Govt. resolution dated 3rd July, 93, 27
nos. of V.F.C. have been formed for joint protection of the
Reserve Forests and Demarcated Protected Forests of the
Division. 3 nos. of Microplan are completed in the
following places.
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Range Forest Block C.D.Block Village
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Khurda Panchagarh R.F. Bolagarh Kushapalla
Khurda Puinchia D.P.F. Banki Pandalama
Tangi Dhani Ranpur Panchgaon
(5 villages)
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12. HARVESTING OF CASHEWNUT :
Cashew is the main source of revenue for the Division.
The cashewnut lots are sold in the public auction.
13. ECO-TOURISM :
This division possesses apart from beautiful Forests,
the famous Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri, Sun Temple at
Konark and Lingaraj Temple at Bhubaneswar. Ministry of
Tourism have constructed cottage in the Berbera Forests to
encourage tourism in the virgin forests. Forest Department
in co-ordination with Orissa Tourism Development Corporation
can arrange for tour package for domestic and foreign
visitor. This co-ordinated eco-tourism will definitely
inculcate the belongingness for conservation of nature.
14. LOK ADALAT :
District level Lok Adalats are being conducted to
dispose long pending forest offence cases in different
Judicial Courts. In the year 1997 state level Lok Adalat was
held at Khurda in which 1414 number of old cases pending in
Bhubaneswar / Khurda / Tangi / Ranpur and Balugaon Ranges
were disposed and fine to a tune of Rs.1,27,300/- was
realised. In the same Adalat 61 No. of section 56 cases
were disposed and an amount of fine of Rs.7,06,000/- was
realised. During the said Adalat a total of 1770 no. of
forest offence cases were disposed and fine amount of
Rs.9,44,500/- was realised.
Upto date 157 no. of cases have been disposed
involving 194 persons and an amount of Rs.1,29,745/- as fine
have been realised by way of holding Lok Adalat.
15. CAR FESTIVAL :
To meet the supply of timber for construction of Cars
(Rathas) for the car festival of Lord Jagannath (Ratha Jatra)
Puri Division supplies 274 nos. of green timbers of
following descriptions from the Khesra forests free of
charge.
Description of green timbers
----------------------------
Timber Size Number
------- ---- ------
Kansa, Simili Planks etc. 2.5' x 10' 46
Paladhua Planks etc. 3' x 10' 85
Mahalimba Planks etc. 3' x 10' 20
Gambhari Planks etc. 2.5' x 12' 1
Mai Planks etc. 3 ' x 10' 15
Kadamba Planks etc. 3' x 10' 4
Kalachua Ballaha 9' x 7' 60
Mai or Debadaru or Paldhua planks 5' x 19' 42
Devadaru for Misc. use 5' x 10' 1
---------
Total = 274 Nos.
The Temple management bears the cost of cutting and
transportation of green timber logs.