Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has temporarily halted the construction of a mega piped water project in Kendrapara district due to the failure of the project authorities to get necessary approvals.
In a recent order, the NGT barred construction in the area until the next hearing of the case.
The inhabitants of Manikunda village in the Marshaghai tehsil of Kendrapara had approached NGT alleging that the area where the project is being executed is gramya jungle kisam, and is being executed without clearance from the Forest Department.
The court in its order said, “The essential question raised in the case is that the Mega Piped Water Supply Project is being executed on forest land in Kendrapara district without obtaining clearance as per the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.”
“There is also a dispute regarding the size of the site which according to the state respondent is less than one acre and 5.20 acres according to the applicant who relies upon a letter dated 31.05.2017 written by the Assistant Conservator of Forest, Kendrapara Range, to the Executive Engineer, RWS&S, Division, Kendrapara,” it added.
The court said that these were matters that required to be decided after ascertaining facts.
“Considering the letter of the Assistant Conservator of Forest dated May 31, 2017, which indicates that 5.20 acres of Gramya Jungle Land is involved, we direct that no construction should be carried out until the next date,” the order said.
Earlier this year, the court had directed the District Magistrate of Kendrapara and the Divisional Forest Officer, Cuttack, to jointly undertake an inspection of the area and submit a report after checking facts.
The project was reportedly meant to be executed by a private party, while the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water departments facilitated work on the forest land.
The mega piped water project being executed on 15.43 acres belonging to the Forest Department was apparently undertaken without approval of the Centre as required under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.