This year India faced devastating heat waves. Odisha burnt at 45 degree celsius and more. In the name of development, we have already lost valuable green covers, which are important for our ecosystem. Trees play a very important role from reducing carbon footprints, retaining water to help mitigate the scorching heat waves. 

As Theodore Roosevelt has said, "A people without children would face a hopeless future; a country without trees is almost as helpless.” We are already doing enough destruction in the name of economy. Cutting of 800 old and valuable trees like Debdaru, banyan, peepal, jamun, mango and jackfruit is simply not acceptable for building MLA quarters, as we are battling heat waves. As per IPCC reports, it will only grow severe. 

The heat waves this year has personally impacted all of us. We all know the importance of trees, how it provides cool cover for us during summer. Not to mention many poor people get shade to carry on their business and rest during the fiery summer.

Under article 48-A, in our constitution “The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.” The government is liable to take necessary and adequate steps to "prevent Environmental Damage and, where some adverse impact on the environment is unavoidable, to minimize such damage and the consequential effects thereof on property and people"

I am co-founder of Climate warriors of Rourkela and an environmentalist. I am determined to save the trees, in order to combat heat waves and prevent further damage to the planet.

• I am urging our Chief Minister Shri Naveen Pattnaik and our Governor Shri Ganeshi Lal to immediately halt further felling of trees. An alternative site with minimum ecology damage may be proposed, for building of MLA quarters. Trees may be planted alternatively as a replacement of the damage already done. 
• Dear concerned citizens, please sign the petition to immediately halt further cutting of trees and save yourself from further damage.

Picture courtesy- OTV newshttps://odishatv.in/news/miscellaneous/hundreds-of-trees-felled-in-bhubaneswar-for-construction-of-multi-storey-building-for-mlas-177795