NGT takes note of illegal jetty construction on Chilika banks
NGT
), East zone bench, in Kolkata has taken cognisance of a petition filed by Maa Kalijaee Motor Boat Workers Union, alleging illegal construction of a concrete jetty at Garadwar in Khurda district on the banks of Chilika lake.
The bench comprising Justice B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Dr Arun Kumar Verma (expert member) has issued notices to the Odisha State Coastal Zone Management Authority (SCZMA), Odisha State Pollution Control Board, Wetland Authority, and Chilika Development Authority, along with the private company behind the project.
The matter was heard on Aug 1. The petitioners, represented by advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy, alleged that the jetty is being built without CRZ clearance and violates environmental norms.
The petitioner society represents traditional boat workers and fisher folk who have relied on Chilika lake for generations. After fishing rights were suspended in 2017, many of them turned to tourism for livelihood. They have been demanding construction of a jetty to support their work, but claim their pleas have been ignored.
The petitioners pointed out that the construction site falls under CRZ-III A and CRZ-IV B zones, where stringent restrictions are in place under the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Online & Flexible degrees
BITS Pilani Digital
Apply Now
They argued that while CRZ clearance was granted in 2022 for a floating jetty in Satapada (Puri district), no such permission exists for the ongoing construction in Garadwar.
The petitioners had submitted a complaint to the Khordha district collector on April 11, 2025, demanding that work be stopped, but claimed that no action was taken. Protests were also reported at the site in May, followed by media coverage, but officials allegedly remained inactive.
The bench noted that the issue merits serious consideration and directed all respondents of the notices to file their replies within four weeks. The matter has been listed for hearing on Sept 15.
The petition has also sought directions for immediate halting of construction, demolition of the jetty, restoration of the site, and exemplary costs on the private firm for violation of CRZ norms and polluting the lake with untreated sewage.
The disputed jetty is reportedly part of a Rs 14.67 crore luxury tourism project approved in principle by the Odisha govt in July 2024, featuring houseboats, cottages, a spa, and an adventure park.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Garbage piling up on roads? Quick response teams to clear them in Greater Noida now
Noida: The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) has deployed 10 Quick Response Teams (QRTs) in localities identified by the health department as needing urgent attention. These teams will operate daily from 9am to 6pm and serve as a rapid-response arm of the sanitation department. While core areas such as Alpha, Beta, and Gamma sectors already have sanitation workers engaged through contractors, officials said there are several newer sectors and commercial pockets where the Authority is yet to appoint dedicated sanitation staff. The QRTs will focus on these under-served areas but can also be deployed elsewhere based on emerging requirements. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida To deter illegal dumping, the Authority has imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 for anyone caught discarding waste from tractors, trolleys, or other vehicles in unauthorised areas under its jurisdiction. "This is a pilot project. If it proves effective, we will scale it up with more teams," said RK Bharti, general manager at GNIDA. "Each QRT includes five sanitation workers and one waste collection vehicle. Additionally, a earthmovers will be assigned to every two waste vehicles to handle large waste dumps." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Car Insurance Rates Are Dropping - Find Out If You're Overpaying AutoSaveMax Get Quote Undo While the regular sanitation operations will continue as usual, officials said the QRTs are meant to fill in the gaps and respond quickly to complaints and problem areas. To ensure visibility and accountability, team members will wear jackets displaying their team numbers, and vehicles will carry QRT identifiers. All vehicles are GPS-enabled for real-time tracking, and a dedicated control room has been set up to monitor operations. GNIDA CEO NG Ravi Kumar said the initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance livability in Greater Noida. "A four-member committee has been formed to monitor the teams' performance. The QRTs have also been empowered to impose fines on individuals violating solid waste norms," he said. The QRT Control Committee will be chaired by Bharti and include senior manager Rajesh Kumar Gautam, manager Bijendra Kushwaha, and assistant manager Manoj Kumar Chaudhary. The committee will handle team deployment and respond to public complaints, ensuring swift redressal of sanitation issues. Additional CEO Shrilakshmi VS said the move marks a major step in strengthening the city's sanitation infrastructure. "If the teams deliver results, we will expand their reach. We also urge bulk waste generators to manage their waste responsibly and appeal to residents not to litter," she said. On Wednesday, GNIDA's QRTs acted on two such cases. A tractor-trolley was caught dumping garbage along the 80-meter road near Sector Chi-Phi.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
MP tigers tobe airliftedto Raj in Oct
Jaipur: The state forest department is set to airlift tigers from Madhya Pradesh in a phased interstate relocation, beginning in October and expected to conclude by December. This will be Rajasthan's second helicopter-based tiger translocation, but the first to be done interstate. The first took place successfully in 2008, when a male tiger was flown by helicopter from Ranthambore National Park to Sariska Tiger Reserve. However, that operation was not interstate. The decision was taken during a meeting held on Wednesday at the Parliament House office in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union minister for environment and forests Bhupender Yadav, and senior forest officials, including Anand Kumar, additional chief secretary of the forest department, and chief wildlife warden Shikha Mehra. A state official said, "Seven tigers—including both males and females—will be translocated to Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota and Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Bundi." Officials also confirmed that all necessary preparations for the tiger translocation are underway. One official added, "Given the distance and challenging landscape, helicopters will be used for the translocation." The prey base is also being strengthened, with plans to release 150 chitals (spotted deer) into the reserves. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Woman sells ring given by ex, then jeweler tells her 'This can't be true' Daily Sport X Undo The meeting also called for expediting the no objection certificate process to fast-track development works in forest areas. All paperwork was completed, and formal approval under Section 12 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, was granted on March 25. The forest department waited for summer to end before starting the translocation. Environmentalist Bhanwar Singh Hada, welcoming the move, said, "At present, Ramgarh has seven big cats, including sub-adults, and Mukundra has five, including a cub. This is a crucial step to improve the gene pool, as earlier research by the National Centre for Biological Sciences found that Rajasthan has more inbred tigers than any other state in the country."
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
City mobility plan report red flags traffic, pedestrian safety
1 2 Nagpur: On nearly half the roads in the Nagpur Metropolitan Region (NMR), pedestrians have no space to walk, and on most, local traffic has no side lanes to move into, reveals the draft Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for NMR, prepared by MahaMetro and RITES. The draft mentions that 80% of roads lack service lanes, while 46% have no footpaths, exposing critical gaps in the city's pedestrian infrastructure. The data, drawn from primary road surveys under the CMP, shows only 42.2% (271.5km) of roads in the region have footpaths on both sides, while another 11.7% (75.2km) have them on just one side. Where footpaths exist, they are often encroached upon, poorly maintained, or interrupted. In several commercial stretches, they have been taken over by shop extensions, parked vehicles, or utility structures, which have been repeatedly reported by TOI in recent years. The lack of service roads, designed to handle local and slow-moving traffic, compounds the problem. The main carriageways are forced to accommodate all types of vehicles, from through-traffic to autos and two-wheelers halting for pickups, leading to frequent bottlenecks and unsafe manoeuvres. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What Will Happen to Your Body If You Start Eating 3 Eggs Every Day? Undo This is particularly evident along roads flanked by dense residential and market areas. Out of 643.6 km of arterial and major roads surveyed, only 129.8 km (20.2%) have service lanes. The remaining 513.8 km (79.8%) are without them. The CMP also assesses the right of way (ROW) across the surveyed network. It finds that 13.6% (87.3km) of roads have a ROW of 10m or less, limiting the possibility of expanding lanes or adding footpaths and medians. Another 20.1% (129.5km) fall in the 11–20m range, while the largest share, with 37% (238.5km), lies between 20–30m. About 29.3% (188.3 km) have a ROW above 30 metres, offering some scope for future infrastructure additions. In terms of carriageway width, data shows 21.8% of roads are either intermediate or two-lane (up to 9m), while 44.3% (285.2 km) are four-lane, and 28.4% (183km) are six-lane or wider. This variation impacts traffic flow and capacity, especially where narrow roads coincide with high-density zones lacking service lanes or footpaths. Though Nagpur is expanding its mass transit systems, including metro and bus networks, the CMP warns that these efforts may be undercut by persistent deficiencies in core road infrastructure. Without retrofitting roads with dedicated pedestrian spaces and service lanes, broader mobility goals may remain unfulfilled. The draft CMP is currently under review and will serve as a key reference for future planning, policymaking, and investment in urban transport for the region. Infographics: Right of Way (ROW) Distribution Category ------------- Road Length (km) ----------- Percentage (%) ≤10m ---------------------------- 87.3 -------------------------- 13.6 10–20m ------------------------ 129.5 -------------------------- 20.1 20–30m ------------------------ 238.3 -------------------------- 37.0 30m ---------------------------- 188.5 -------------------------- 29.3 Total ------------------------- 643.6 ------------------------ 100.0 Carriageway Width Distribution Width ---------------------- Road Length (km) ---------- Percentage (%) Up to 6m ---------------------------- 69.1 --------------------------- 10.7 6–9m --------------------------------- 70.1 --------------------------- 10.9 9–12m ------------------------------- 36.2 ---------------------------- 5.6 12–18m ----------------------------- 285.2 -------------------------- 44.3 18m or more --------------------- 183.0 --------------------------- 28.4 Total ---------------------------- 643.6 -------------------------- 100.0 Availability of Service Roads Availability --------- Road Length (km) ---------- Percentage (%) Present ---------------------- 129.8 ------------------------- 20.2 Absent ------------------------ 513.8 ------------------------- 79.8 Total ------------------------ 643.6 ------------------------ 100.0 Availability of Footpaths Category -------------------- Road Length (km) ---------- Percentage (%) Present (Total) ------------------- 346.7 ------------------------- 53.9 One Side -------------------------- 75.2 -------------------------- 11.7 Both Sides ---------------------- 271.5 ------------------------- 42.2 Absent ----------------------------- 296.9 ------------------------- 46.1 Total ---------------------------- 643.6 ------------------------ 100.0
