Latest news with #SankarPrasadPani
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
NGT issues notice over ‘illegal' constructions on forest land in Jajpur district
CUTTACK: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) east zone bench in Kolkata, on Monday, issued notices to the state government and other authorities over alleged constructions on forest land in Jajpur district. The tribunal while hearing a petition filed by Kailash Chandra Nayak, a resident of Nuadihi village under Danagadi tehsil of Jajpur district also issued notice to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Alleging that large-scale construction projects are being undertaken illegally over forest lands in Danagadi and Sukinda blocks, the petitioner claimed that they are being funded by the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Fund with approval from the district collector of Jajpur, who also serves as the managing trustee of the DMF. Advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy representing the petitioner alleged that these constructions are being carried out without prior approval from the central government as required under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Taking note of the allegations, the bench comprising Justice B Amit Sthalekar (Judicial Member) and Dr Arun Kumar Verma (Expert Member) stated, 'Matter requires consideration,' and issued notices to the additional chief secretary, state Forest, Environment and Climate Change department, district collector Jajpur, BDOs of Danagadi and Sukinda, tehsildars of both blocks and the divisional forest officer Cuttack. They have been directed to file counter-affidavits within four weeks. The matter is listed for next hearing on August 25. According to the petition, on November 21, 2023, the collector issued a letter to the BDO of Sukinda for construction of activity rooms in 132 primary schools at a cost of Rs 13.20 crore. Later, on January 24, 2024, the collector sanctioned Rs 13.10 crore for additional classrooms and `14 crore for activity rooms in 140 schools in Danagadi block. The petition claims massive concrete structures are being erected on land recorded as forest, which, as per a 2011 clarification by the Revenue department, falls under the purview of the Forest Conservation Act. The petition seeks immediate intervention to halt non-forest activities on forest land until clearance is obtained and calls for declaration of the constructions as illegal.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
NGT notice to ministry, state govt over ‘illegal' construction on forest land
1 2 3 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). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Pieces of Clothing you should Ditch over 40 Learn More Undo 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.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
11 green cardholders in Balasore move HC seeking benefits under defunct scheme
1 2 Cuttack: Eleven women from Balasore district have filed a petition in the Orissa high court, seeking benefits under the now-defunct Green Card scheme. The petitioners, who were issued the cards between 1988 and 2012, have alleged that they have not received any of the promised benefits even after years. The Green Card scheme, launched by the Odisha govt in 1983, aimed to encourage permanent family planning among couples with two or fewer children. Under the scheme, beneficiaries were promised homestead land, financial assistance to construct homes, reservation in housing loans for lower and middle-income groups, reservation for their children in technical education institutes and other incentives, such as participation in lotteries and monetary awards. At present, more than six lakh couples are Green Card holders in Odisha. Though the scheme was officially withdrawn in 2012, the petitioners have argued that discontinuation cannot be used as a reason to deny benefits to existing cardholders. During the hearing on June 26, advocate Sankar Prasad Pani, representing the petitioners, submitted that the Green Cards were issued by the state and the govt is duty-bound to honour the commitments made under the scheme. "Just because no fresh Green Cards are being issued now, it doesn't mean that existing holders should be denied the benefits," Pani told the court. Taking note of the submission, Justice Sashikanta Mishra directed the state counsel to seek instructions from the govt and explain why benefits had not been extended to the petitioners. The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 17. Last year, the petitioners had submitted a detailed representation to the Balasore collector on Nov 30 and to the secretary of health and family welfare department on Dec 16, but no action was taken, prompting them to move the high court. The petition seeks a court direction to the authorities concerned to consider the representations and provide the entitled benefits within a stipulated time. Most of the petitioners are landless and come from underprivileged backgrounds. A 2007 letter from the revenue and disaster management department had also directed the board of revenue to allot homestead land to Green Card holders, the petition said.
