Cuttack, Feb 26: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) will conduct an inquiry into allegations of encroachments in form of constructions on stretches of Mahanadi river bed at Kanheipur, Bhagamba, Bhadimula, Gatiroutpatna and Diha Sahi in the city.
The NGT has constituted a joint committee to verify the factual position and suggest appropriate remedial action.
Shailesh Sahoo of Cuttack had filed the petition seeking intervention into inaction by the authorities on illegal constructions on Mahanadi river bed and along it in the areas within Chauliaganj and CRRI police limits.
The NGT’s principal bench in New Delhi ordered a probe into the matter hearing Sahoo’s plea.
The bench of Arun Kumar Tyagi (judicial member) and Dr Afroz Ahmad (expert member) on February 19 said the allegations made in the application prima facie raise substantial questions relating to environment coming under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
“In view of the averments made in the application, we also consider it appropriate that a joint committee be constituted to verify the factual position and suggest appropriate remedial action,” the bench said.
The joint committee comprises representatives of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), integrated regional office of Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Bhubaneswar, principal secretary State Water Resource department, Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and the district magistrate, Cuttack.
The bench directed the joint committee to meet within two weeks, undertake visits to the site, look into the grievances of the applicant, associate the applicant and representative of the project proponents concerned, verify the factual position and suggest appropriate remedial action to the concerned authorities.
