Deforestation for beer factory: Odisha CM orders cancellation of bottling plant

Bhubaneswar: After much hue and cry over deforestation for establishment of a beer bottling plant at Balarampur in Odapada block of Odisha’s Dhenkanal district, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today ordered for cancellation of the factory.

The CM’s directive came on the basis of a report by the concerned Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) over the incident.

The RDC has written a letter to the Industries Department for afforestation on the patch of land where the trees were cut.

The State Government has directed for identification of a separate location for establishment of the beer bottling plant.

Notably, locals had on November 17 jostled with police when the district administration began the process of cutting trees to acquire land for the proposed liquor bottling plant. Many women were also seen guarding the trees by wrapping their arms around the same.

According to official sources, the bottling unit was proposed to be set up by Gayatri Group’s P Bottlers on 12.59 acres of land.