He said that creation of mangrove forest was the only viable solution to prevent devastation which was witnessed during the recent cyclonic storm Yaas, mainly in three districts including Baleswar, Bhadrak and Kendrapada. Jena observed that the need of hour is to create a wall of mangrove forests for a 480 km coastline with one km width. Per hectare while nearly Rs 50,000 is needed for 48,000 hectares of land the amount about Rs 250 crore would be required. Jena also opined that another option to construct a seawall wont work as it would cause water draining issues. When the trees along with the coast are being cut mindlessly and indiscriminately, it has created an ecological imbalance.
Except in the Bhitarakanika sanctuary, the mangrove forest of the State is almost nonexistent these days. Hence, the should undertake the mangrove forest plantation in a time-bound manner, Jena emphasised. Jena also observed that a programme entitled Coastal Shelter Belt was undertaken following a severe cyclone in 1971, which caused loss of human lives of over 10,000 besides huge damages to Livestock and other assets, by former CM Biju Patnaik as a long term solution to the tidal surge but the programme was stalled subsequently.
He further said the shrimp farming should be regulated through a regulatory authority and the mangrove forest should be revived and created along the sea coast in both the forest lands as well as Government lands.