Context:

Recently, the Odisha government approved planting of palm trees to combat the rising fatalities caused by lightning strikes

About the Initiative:

• According to the plan, the department intends to plant approximately 1.9 million palm trees throughout the state during the fiscal year 2024-25
• Odisha state has also restricted the cutting of existing palm trees. Individuals must seek permission from the forest department before cutting palm trees on private land. 

Lightning Fatalities in Odisha:

• Over the past 11 years, lightning strikes have claimed the lives of approximately 3,800 people in the state, with a notable increase in incidents in recent years. 
• In the previous three fiscal years, 791 fatalities were reported, indicating an increasing frequency of lightning strikes.
• On September 2, 2023, Odisha recorded 61,000 lightning strikes in two hours, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 people.
• lightning strikes have been recognized as a state-specific disaster since 2015

Why Lightning strikes are a concern in Odisha: 

• Odisha's tropical climate and hot, dry conditions make it highly prone to lightning strikes.
• The Annual Lightning Report 2023-2024 by Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPC) and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) notes that eastern and central India, including Odisha, experiences the highest frequency of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes.
• Climate change has intensified lightning activity, increasing it by nearly 10% for each degree Celsius of warming.
• With 96% of lightning strikes occurring in rural areas and over 80% of Odisha's population engaged in agriculture, many are vulnerable due to long hours spent outdoors.

Mitigation Strategy:

• Planting palm trees aim to use their height and moisture as natural lightning conductors to reduce strike impact.
• The government has allocated Rs 7 crore for this initiative and banned palm tree felling to support it.
• Experts have raised concerns about the long-term effectiveness of this solution, noting that palm trees take 15 to 20 years to reach a height where they can effectively mitigate lightning strikes.
• Efforts in Bangladesh show that planting palm trees has not significantly reduced lightning fatalities.
• Experts highlight the need for public education on lightning strike safety protocols, despite the state's implementation of early warning systems to predict strikes.