Bhubaneswar going Delhi way in terms of pollution, says HC

Cuttack: The Orissa high court on Friday cautioned that Bhubaneswar was heading the way of Delhi, which is facing acute air pollution.The observation came while considering a PIL on alleged illegal felling by two sawmills in the vicinity of Similipal reserve forest, seeking appropriate action. A two-judge bench of acting Chief Justice B R Sarangi called upon the forest department to ensure the forest resources are not destroyed in the name of rehabilitation of closed saw mills, because people are now facing a severe crisis for survival in a healthy environment. This should not be jeopardised further in any manner, the bench said. “The burning example before this court is New Delhi, capital of India, which suffers from acute air pollution. Had there been enough growth of forest, this air pollution could have been averted,” it added. “Similarly, the state of Orissa, mainly its capital Bhubaneswar, is heading towards similar problem which is faced in New Delhi, may be within a short span of time,” the bench warned, adding, “Therefore, now time has come for all the stakeholders to act strictly in consonance with the provisions of law to give better environment for survival of human habitation.”Dismissing the allegation the petition was a “personal interest litigation”, the bench said: “Baripada city in the year 2023 was recorded as the hottest city and this happened due to deforestation affecting the environment greatly. Therefore, this is a public interest litigation, by which the petitioners otherwise seek to protect the environment, by bringing to the notice of the court that such an irregularity has been caused, which is to be rectified by relocating the saw mills in conformity with the provisions of law.”The bench, however, dismissed the petition on the ground that “no conclusion can be drawn the saw mills are involved in illegal timber business in absence of any materials before this court”.But it added, “The primary objective is survival of human habitation, which should not be lost sight of, while considering the rehabilitation of the closed saw mills and also notification issued for consideration of the state level committee for taking decision regarding grant of license/permission to the wood-based industries subject to compliance of the prescribed guidelines and procedures issued by ministry of environment, forest and climate change...”

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