Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a joint inspection of the under construction mega drinking water project in Kendrapara district. It has been alleged that the construction of the project is being done without requisite permissions.
Aggrieved inhabitants of Manikunda village under the Marshaghai tehsil of Kendrapara had earlier moved the NGT claiming that area where the project is being undertaken is under the gramya jungle kisam and no clearance was taken from the Forest department for it.
In its interim order, a three-judge bench of the NGT said, “Before we issue a notice, we direct the District Magistrate, Kendrapara, and the Divisional Forest Officer, Cuttack, to jointly undertake an inspection of the area in question and submit a report after verification of facts.”
The tribunal also directed the inspection team to scrutinize any wrongdoing in the case as reported and to take actions and file an Action-Taken Report accordingly. “In the event of the allegations are found to be correct, appropriate action in accordance with law be instituted and the result thereof be included in the Action Taken Report,” the NGT order said.
The project was reported to be undertaken by a private party, while the state Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water departments facilitated work on the said forest land. The mega piped water project on 15.43 acres of land belonging to the Forest department was apparently undertaken without the approval of the Central government as required under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
In their plea to the tribunal, the petitioners had stated, “While executing the project many trees, including neem trees, were felled. The Forest department planted around thousand saplings on the same site in 2018-19 under the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Despite representations, the construction work is underway by engaging heavy vehicles to dig sand and earth thereby changing the nature and character of the forest land.”
After passing the order of joint inspection and seeking an Action Taken Report, the NGT has asked the parties to attend the next hearing April 23 this year to discuss the issue further based on the findings of the inspection panel.