Cuttack: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) which had imposed restrictions on conduct of Bali Yatra on Mahanadi riverbank here Friday issued clearance to organise the annual trade fair commemorating Orissa’s rich maritime practices.
The clearance with riders from the NGT to go ahead with the 10-day traditional fair has removed the uncertainty over the fate of Bali Yatra on the Mahanadi riverbank in the Millennium City.
The NGT nod came after it went through a review petition filed by the state government and Cuttack district administration.
“After considering our review petition, NGT has given us the clearance. So we will resume allotment of plots for stalls which was put on hold by the green tribunal,” Cuttack collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra told reporters here Friday.
Earlier, a petition was filed with the NGT alleging that the annual trade fair on the riverbed led to dumping of construction debris and solid waste and shrinking of the river to the detriment of the environment. On the basis of the charges, the green tribunal had put curbs on holding of the trade fair and issued a show-cause notice to the state government and the district administration.
Notably, in view of the ever increasing volume and size of the Bali Yatra, the administration has extended Tala Padia ground on the riverbed for the Bali Yatra.
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