NGT notice to ministry, state govt over ‘illegal' construction on forest land
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Cuttack: National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday issued notices to the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change, Odisha govt and several officials over alleged illegal construction on forest land in Jajpur district.
The petition, filed by Kailash Chandra Nayak of Nuadihi village under Danagadi tehsil, sought intervention against construction being carried out by the state govt on forest land in Danagadi and Sukinda blocks without mandatory approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
The petitioner, represented by advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy, claimed these constructions are being carried out without any forest clearance from the Centre.
A representation was submitted to the authorities on March 30, but no action has been taken so far, the petition claimed.
The bench, comprising Justice B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Dr Arun Kumar Verma (expert member), noted the matter "requires consideration" and issued notices to the additional chief secretary (forest, environment and climate change), district collector of Jajpur, BDOs and tehsildars of Danagadi and Sukinda and the divisional forest officer (Cuttack).
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All respondents have been directed to file their counter affidavits within four weeks. The case was listed for the next hearing on Aug 25.
According to the petition, massive concrete structures are being built using funds from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) with the approval of Jajpur district collector, who is also the managing trustee of DMF. It was alleged that on Nov 21, 2023, the collector issued a letter to the Sukinda BDO for constructing activity rooms in 132 primary schools at a cost of Rs 13.20 crore. On Jan 24, 2024, he again approved Rs 13.10 crore for additional classrooms and Rs 14 crore for activity rooms in 140 schools under Danagadi block.
The petition sought a halt on all non-forest activities being carried out on forest land without prior central approval and demanded that such constructions be declared illegal.
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