Derided by health enthusiasts for its commonly used oil, the palm tree has many benefits too. Palm oil might be a subject of contention for many, but the tree by itself is very useful. For instance, it can ward off lightning and, thereby, save lives.
Between 2000 and 2021, over 49,000 people had died from lightning strikes in India. And, Odisha is one of the leaders, with an unprecedented 61,000 lightning strikes in 2 hours in September last year that killed 12 people!
To fight a calamity of that scale, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has come up with a plan to grow massive palm plantations across the state, as these trees are considered crucial in warding off lightning strikes. The Forest and Agriculture departments are working jointly with OSDMA for planting of more than 25 lakh palm trees, which will also help create livelihoods.
Indian Masterminds interacted with 1991 batch IAS officer Satyabrata Sahu, who is Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Disaster Management and Forest & Environment, and 2007 batch IAS officer Gyana Ranjan Das, Executive Director, OSDMA, to know more about this initiative.
MASSIVE PALM PLANTATION
Research has proved that long trees, especially Palm, act as a natural lightning conductor. That is why, the state government is adopting this mitigating measure.
The forest department alone is planting more than 23 lakh palm trees on forest land, especially in rural pockets, with a budget of Rs. 8 crore. While the agriculture department will plant more than 2 lakh trees, giving subsidy to the farmers for this cause. All these plantings will be done this season.
In the first phase, the forest department has identified 10 districts which are the most vulnerable to lightening, like Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Ganjam and Keonjhar.
Mr. Satyabrata Sahu said, “Recently, I had chaired an inter-departmental meeting for the implementation of disaster resilient projects. Together with the Forest and Agriculture departments, we are going to take up massive palm tree plantations in reserve forests and other vulnerable districts to reduce lightning-related hazards.”
IDENTIFICATION OF PLACES
For identification of vulnerable places, the OSDMA does the recordings. There are various places where censors have been installed. They calculate on these sensors how many lightning strikes are happening from cloud to cloud and where it is happening from cloud to ground, and in which district, it is happening the most.
Mr. Gyana Ranjan Das said, “After analyzing all the data, we have identified the vulnerable places.”
OTHERS MEASURES
Apart from massive plantations, OSDMA has taken other measures too. They have developed an app named ‘Satark’, which sends instant text and voice messages to people 15-20 minutes before lightning strikes in their areas. All that the people have to do to receive such messages is enroll in the app, which is location specific. They can give up to five locations according on priority basis.
Mr. Gyana said, “We also get news published about impending lightnings. There is a global study and research which suggests that tall trees capture the lightning current. Along with that, it also promotes ecology.”
ECOLOGY & LIVELIHOOD
Palm plantations are directly attached with livelihood and economy, too. People use palm fruits, palm juice, palm oil, and palm leaves, etc., for different purposes.
Mr. Gyana said, “So this will not just help ecology, but also generate livelihoods. Jaggery made from palm is really famous now. Palm leaves are used in various materials. Hence, the plantations will create large employment avenues.”
ABOUT LIGHTNING STRIKE
Lightning strike is the discharge of electricity to another cloud or to the ground. The effects of lightning on humans include burns, muscle spasms, multi-system dysfunction, cardiac arrest and instant death.
Hence, the Odisha government’s ‘palm tree step’ to prevent lightning mishaps is in the right direction, as not only people and their livestock will be protected, but it will also promote and safeguard economic growth in the concerned areas.
