The National Green Tribunal (NGT) East Zone bench in Kolkata has issued notices to several state authorities regarding the alleged encroachment on 18 acres of the Luna riverbed at Badapal, Kendrapada district. The notices were prompted by a petition filed by local activist Alaya Samantaray, alleging that a Jharkhand-based company engaged in the National Highway-53 expansion project had carried out unauthorised construction on the riverbed. The petition highlights concerns over the threat posed to the river's ecosystem and its natural flow. The NGT has directed key officials to respond within four weeks.
The National Green Tribunal's (NGT) East Zone bench, based in Kolkata, has issued notices to various state authorities concerning alleged encroachment on 18 acres of the Luna riverbed in the Badapal area of Kendrapada district. Notices have also been sent to the Odisha State Pollution Control Board and the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority. These actions follow a petition filed by local activist Alaya Samantaray, who raised concerns about unauthorised construction activities carried out by a private Jharkhand-based company involved in the expansion of National Highway-53.
The NGT bench, which consists of judicial member B Amit Sthalekar and expert member Arun Kumar Verma, has instructed the chief secretary, the water resources department secretary, and other relevant officials to submit responses within four weeks. The petition, which was filed through advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy, claims that the construction company has established labour camps, material yards, and office structures on the riverbed without obtaining the necessary permits. The petitioner further asserts that these actions pose a significant threat to the river's ecosystem and its natural flow.
The bench noted that the matter requires serious consideration, hence issuing notices to multiple parties, including the district magistrate of Kendrapada and the tehsildar of Marshaghai. Information gathered through Right to Information (RTI) applications indicates that the construction company lacks both consent to establish (CTE) and consent to operate (CTO) certificates. The petition also highlights the alleged illegal extraction of sand from the riverbed near Badapal. The tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for late January 2025.
The NGT's action follows growing concerns regarding the environmental impact of unauthorised construction activities along the Luna riverbed in Kendrapada. With notices issued to several state authorities and key officials, the case raises questions about the balance between infrastructure development and environmental conservation. The petition underlines potential damage to the river's ecosystem, specifically its natural flow, and calls attention to the lack of required environmental permits by the construction company. The next hearing, set for January 2025, will further address these critical issues, underlining the tribunal's intent to protect the environment.
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