Every year, 1.7 million trees are being cut down. Talcher and Balasore have surpassed New Delhi in the air pollution index. Not only these two, but Baripada, Angul, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Kendujhar are also competing to be among the most polluted areas in the country. During summer, heatstroke claims lives, and sudden cyclones are consequences of pollution-induced climate change. While the government plans tree plantation drives, nearly 1.7 million trees (17,08,365 according to government data) have already been cut down in the past 10 years for various development works. Air pollution in the state is not under control. Trees have a strong capacity to reduce pollution, yet the current rate of tree cutting is extremely alarming. Summer temperatures are now crossing 47°C, while winters and the rainy season are shrinking year by year. Moreover, in 2024–25, forest divisions like Balangir, Banai, Angul, Jharsuguda, and Karanjia witnessed the highest tree loss. According to the Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department, over the past 10 years, under the CAMPA fund, a total of 17,682,172 trees have been planted on 37,658.23 hectares of land. The survival rate of these trees is 83.67%, and the total expenditure for these plantations was ₹406.60 crore. However, environmentalists are skeptical about these numbers. Environmentalist Jaykrushna Panigrahi said that if a tree lives for 50 years, its value for human generations is about ₹1.5 crore. Due to the irresponsibility of stakeholders, the survival rate of trees is steadily decreasing. Uncontrolled tree felling has made the environment unsafe. Rivers and water bodies in the city are drying up due to lack of forest cover. Illegal felling and misuse of forests by unscrupulous people have further worsened the situation. As the number of trees decreases day by day, there is a noticeable lack of free oxygen. Ponds within the city are drying up due to poor restoration efforts, and low-quality roads are increasing dust during traffic. These factors are the main causes of Baripada’s current severe pollution and heat. Intellectuals and environmentalists criticize the Forest Department and administration for their failures. There is also concern that even the Hon’ble Minister of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change has given very little attention and action to this district. Immediate corrective action and strict measures are needed.