Body blow to Odisha’s Mahandi riverfront growth plan, NGT refuses building proposal

By Express News Service

CUTTACK: The state authorities’s purported Mahanadi riverfront growth plan has acquired a decisive blow with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) refusing to just accept the proposal for constructions within the 426 acres of reclaimed land because it has been established to be a part of a flood plain zone.

The five-member bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel mentioned, “There is clear anticipated danger of flooding. We are guided by ‘precautionary principle’ under section 20 of the NGT Act.”

The 426 acres of riverbed had been reclaimed by dumping sand dredged from the reservoir space of Jobra barrage over a stretch of 5 kilometres in size and a width of 0.5 kilometres to 1.2 kilometres upstream with the peak as much as six toes.

Two-thirds of the reclaimed land could also be developed as a dense forest, whereas one-third of the land could also be developed as parks/playgrounds with none everlasting or momentary constructions, the bench mentioned. No business exercise ought to be allowed, the judges careworn.

“It is made clear that no concretization of any sort will be allowed in the entire 426 acres of land. While allowing Baliyatra in 34 acres of land, all due precautions for maintaining sanitation and hygiene shall be observed,” the bench ordered.

ALSO READ | Odisha floods: Lack of sluice gates resulting in deluge in Mahanadi river

The space the place the forest is to be developed could also be handed over to the forest division after demarcation. The remainder of the realm is to be maintained by the involved native physique/flood and irrigation Department, as could also be determined by the Odisha Government, the bench additional ordered, whereas ruling out restoration of the reclaimed riverbed on grounds of viability.

Acting on two petitions, the Tribunal had earlier appointed a seven-member knowledgeable committee to evaluate the ecological influence and mixed hazard vulnerability of the reclaimed riverbed.

The five-member bench additionally noticed: “We further agree with the recommendations of the committee that while Baliyatra ground (34 acres) may be retained, though in floodplain zone, there should be no further expansion and no concretization or compacting of the said ground. The remaining 392 acres of land (can) be used for plantation of local species and the area be developed into a biological park and no commercial use be allowed. The state of Odisha may take steps for floodplain zoning of other major rivers.”

The petitions had been filed by social activist Pradip Pattnaik and environmental activist B Mohanty. Senior Advocate Sisir Das and Advocate Sankar Prasad Pani argued on behalf of them. Advocate General AK Parija made submissions for the state authorities.

The Tribunal had reserved judgment on the petitions Wednesday and launched it late on Thursday.

CUTTACK: The state authorities’s purported Mahanadi riverfront growth plan has acquired a decisive blow with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) refusing to just accept the proposal for constructions within the 426 acres of reclaimed land because it has been established to be a part of a flood plain zone.

The five-member bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel mentioned, “There is clear anticipated danger of flooding. We are guided by ‘precautionary principle’ under section 20 of the NGT Act.”

The 426 acres of riverbed had been reclaimed by dumping sand dredged from the reservoir space of Jobra barrage over a stretch of 5 kilometres in size and a width of 0.5 kilometres to 1.2 kilometres upstream with the peak as much as six toes.

Two-thirds of the reclaimed land could also be developed as a dense forest, whereas one-third of the land could also be developed as parks/playgrounds with none everlasting or momentary constructions, the bench mentioned. No business exercise ought to be allowed, the judges careworn.

“It is made clear that no concretization of any sort will be allowed in the entire 426 acres of land. While allowing Baliyatra in 34 acres of land, all due precautions for maintaining sanitation and hygiene shall be observed,” the bench ordered.

ALSO READ | Odisha floods: Lack of sluice gates resulting in deluge in Mahanadi river

The space the place the forest is to be developed could also be handed over to the forest division after demarcation. The remainder of the realm is to be maintained by the involved native physique/flood and irrigation Department, as could also be determined by the Odisha Government, the bench additional ordered, whereas ruling out restoration of the reclaimed riverbed on grounds of viability.

Acting on two petitions, the Tribunal had earlier appointed a seven-member knowledgeable committee to evaluate the ecological influence and mixed hazard vulnerability of the reclaimed riverbed.

The five-member bench additionally noticed: “We further agree with the recommendations of the committee that while Baliyatra ground (34 acres) may be retained, though in floodplain zone, there should be no further expansion and no concretization or compacting of the said ground. The remaining 392 acres of land (can) be used for plantation of local species and the area be developed into a biological park and no commercial use be allowed. The state of Odisha may take steps for floodplain zoning of other major rivers.”

The petitions had been filed by social activist Pradip Pattnaik and environmental activist B Mohanty. Senior Advocate Sisir Das and Advocate Sankar Prasad Pani argued on behalf of them. Advocate General AK Parija made submissions for the state authorities.

The Tribunal had reserved judgment on the petitions Wednesday and launched it late on Thursday.