MORE than 2,229 lakh trees in 40 coastal villages of four tehsils of Kutch district were totally destroyed during the cyclone which which swept across Gujarat in July this year. More than 7,000 people died in the cyclone, including 4,400 salt pan workers at the Kandia port. About 13.5 lakh of the destroyed treees have been counted as belonging to the irrigated farming areas, says a report prepared by a non-governmental trees body. However, the state government has neither supported the survey nor conducted any detailed assessment so far.

It was found that some 12.28 lakh trees bore fruits. Of the trees that were uprooted, only 2.34 lakh trees can be revived. Fruit crops, such as dates, suffered a loss worth Rs 1.18 crore, chiku worth Rs 27.18 lakh and bananas worth Rs 60.37 lakh.