Island built on Mahanadi riverbed: SEIAA to NGT

Cuttack: The State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) on Wednesday told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that an artificial concrete island with permanent structures was created within the reclaimed area of Mahanadi riverbed in Cuttack.The submission was made before the NGT’s east zone Bench in Kolkata, which was hearing a fresh petition seeking intervention against illegal construction in violation of specific directions of the tribunal regarding the 426 acres of Mahanadi riverbed reclaimed by sand filling upstream of the Jobra barrage.Social activist Pradip Pattanaik, filed the fresh plea. Senior advocates Sisir Das and Anand Jena made submissions in virtual mode along with a rejoinder to the counter affidavit filed by the state govt. In an affidavit, member secretary of SEIAA, Odisha, Kailasam Murugesan said an artificial concrete island has been created “by establishing a cafeteria, food court, liquor bar-cum-restaurant, paid vehicle parking, paid picnic spot and large area surrounded by concrete wall”. “Many other constructions are going on at present by dumping and filling of sand soles of the riverbed of river Mahanadi,” Murugesan said, adding, “most of the points alleged by the petitioner are true.” “In this case, the SEIAA, Odisha has not issued any environmental clearance (EC) for any types of construction and area development work,” Murugesan stated. Taking note of the affidavit, the bench of Justice B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Arun Kumar Verma (expert member) rejected the counter affidavit filed by the state govt on the ground of making false claims in an irresponsible manner.In the counter affidavit, engineer-in-chief of water resources department, Bhakta Ranjan Mohanty, had claimed: “No illegal construction has been made in the Mahanadi riverbed to cause any obstruction in the river.”The bench posted the matter for further hearing to May 29, expecting the state govt to file a better affidavit.

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