Baripada: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata, has restrained the Odisha government, Baripada Municipality and other authorities from carrying out further construction, tree felling or non-forest activities on a disputed plot at Jubilee Park in Baripada without prior approval from the Central government.
The interim order was passed by a bench comprising Judicial Member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Members Dr A Senthil Vel and Ishwar Singh. The tribunal directed the Mayurbhanj District Collector, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Baripada, and Superintendent of Police, Mayurbhanj, to ensure strict compliance with its directions.
The order came on an application filed by Pratap Chandra Mohanty, who alleged illegal tree felling and land clearance for an infrastructure development project at Jubilee Park without mandatory forest clearance and permission from the Forest Department.
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The dispute centres on Plot No. 213 under Khata No. 74, which is recorded as ‘Jungle-1’ in revenue records. According to the applicant, tree felling began April 2, 2026, and more than 100 trees were allegedly cut using chainsaws.
Their stumps were subsequently removed using excavators. The project, being executed by the National Federation of Farmers’ Procurement, Processing and Retailing Cooperatives of India Ltd (NACOF) following a work order issued by Baripada Municipality, includes infrastructure development, landscaping, an island, boating facilities, electrical installations and children’s amenities.
The applicant sought a declaration that the alleged tree felling and land clearance without prior approval under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, were illegal. He also sought restoration of the land and a report from the Odisha Biodiversity Board on the status of the Biodiversity Management Committee and People’s Biodiversity Register in the municipality.
However, the DFO, Baripa da, disputed the allegations, submitting that the ‘Jungle-1’ classification in revenue records did not amount to formal notification under the relevant forest laws. The department also claimed that its field inquiry found no tree felling on the disputed plot. After examining the submissions, the tribunal held that the applicant had established a prima facie case and that failure to grant interim protection could cause irreparable loss.
Invoking the precautionary principle under Section 20 of the NGT Act, 2010, the bench restrained further construction, tree felling and non-forest activities on the disputed plot without prior Central Government approval under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The tribunal directed the district administration and police to ensure compliance and listed the matter for final hearing January 5, 2027.
