By IANS
Kendrapada (Orissa) : Forest officials in Orissa Saturday arrested four people for damaging and uprooting mangrove saplings in the state's coastal district of Kendrapada.
The officials had planted mangrove saplings last year after demolishing illegal prawn farms in about 300 acres in the seaside areas of Mahakalapada and Rajnagar blocks in Kendrapada district.
The arrested – identified as Maheswar Tarei, Himansu Swain, Bhagawan Sahoo and Kalindi Swain of nearby villages – were found damaging and uprooting the sapling near Batighar village located near the Bay of Bengal, local forest officer Jayanta Pattanaik told IANS.
Mangrove forests provide a natural barrier against cyclones and storms.
They contribute immensely to the growth of estuarine fishery resources besides yielding timbers, firewood, honey and medicines, added Pattanaik.