NGT seeks OSPCB affidavit on ‘degradation’ of Asrukhola wetland

Cuttack: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notice to Odisha State Pollution Control (OSPCB) to file an affidavit on the degradation of Asrukhola wetland spread over Cuttack, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts.
NGT’s east zone bench in Kolkata issued the notice on a petition filed by Asrukhola Development Council claiming to represent 29 gram panchayats in the three districts.
The plea sought the tribunal’s direction for rejuvenation and protection of the 63-km stretch of the wetland, which is vital to mitigate the impact of natural disasters like floods in the coastal districts.The bench of Justice B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Arun Kumar Verma (expert member) impleaded OSPCB as a party in the case on Aug 21 following submissions by advocate Sankar Prasad Pani representing the petitioner.
Pani pointed out that OSPCB had already requested the water resources department in 2021 to take necessary action at the earliest to restore the quality of Ashrukhola wetland by reviving its natural flow.
Member secretary of OSPCB wrote to the principal secretary, water resources department, on Dec 27, 2021, informing that the water quality of Asrukhola was not fit for bathing and drinking water and the cause of pollution may be due to stagnant water and huge growth of aquatic vegetation, Pani further stated.
The bench fixed Oct 15 for further consideration of the matter along with the OSPCB’s affidavit.
According to the petition, closure of the mouth of Sukpaika river and strengthening of the embankment of Chitrotpala river in the 1970s had prevented the inflow of water during floods, thereby resulting in drying up of certain lower regions of Asrukhola wetland.
The petition sought NGT’s intervention for rejuvenation of the 11-km stretch of the dead Sukpaika river, also known as Kaninai, and then connect it to Asrukhola wetland for its long-term sustainability.