State told to file fresh affidavit on plea against ‘harmful tourism’ in Satkosia

Cuttack: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the state govt to file a fresh counter affidavit within four weeks to the petition challenging “ongoing harmful tourism activities” in the Satkosia Tiger Reserve and Satkosia gorge of the Mahanadi river “under the garb of eco-tourism”.The NGT’s east zone bench in Kolkata expressed dissatisfaction over the state govt’s affidavit submitted on Friday as it was silent on the structures allegedly built in the ecologically sensitive area.The bench of B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Arun Kumar Verma (expert member) said, “The state authorities, are, therefore, directed to file fresh affidavit within four weeks addressing location of construction, activities under eco-tourism, carrying capacity, number of visitors as well as sustainability of ecosystem.”Secretary of Wildlife Society of Orissa, Biswajit Mohanty, filed the petition in January. The petition pointed out that over 16 cottage tents, seven of them with AC, and attendant dining huts have been set up during tourist the season from Oct to May as part of the ‘Badmul Sand Resort’ in Satkosia where bonfires are lit at night and sand sports such as volleyball/basketball and football are organised along with folk music and dance, which are extremely disturbing to wildlife.Construction of tents and sheds for tourists in the ecologically sensitive area will bring irreparable damage to the local environment and biodiversity, the petition claimed. While granting the Centre also four weeks and posting the matter for further hearing on July 22, the bench said, “The ministry (of environment, forests and climate change) is directed to file its counter affidavit, particularly with reference to the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary and the issues involved in the present case.” Satkosia gorge is one of the largest river gorges in the state, which almost 22.5-km-long and runs through the tiger reserve. It is a natural habitat for about 500 endangered gharials who use the sand banks for laying eggs.

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