Bhubaneswar, April 6 Expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of meaningful action to stop illegal activities along the Mahanadi riverbed and floodplain in Cuttack, Odisha, the National Green Tribunal has constituted a joint committee to examine the matter and submit a report within 15 days.
The order was issued by the NGT, Principal Bench, New Delhi on April 2, while hearing a petition filed by a person named Shailesh Sahoo, which was treated as a suo moto case by the panel.
The petitioner alleged large-scale unauthorized constructions in the river's catchment areas, corridors, and embankment zones, posing a risk to the environment and increasing flood vulnerability.
"We also express our dissatisfaction that, despite the direction given vide order dated 23.04.2025 to the Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha, the Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Government of Odisha, and the Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department... to file their own affidavits, these affidavits have not been filed," the tribunal said in its order.
"We constitute a Joint Committee comprising representatives of the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (C), MoEF & CC Regional Office, Bhubaneswar, and the Chief Secretary, Odisha, and the Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Odisha... to look into the grievances and also the aspects highlighted by this Tribunal in the orders already passed," it said.
The joint committee will verify the factual position, suggest appropriate remedial measures, and submit an interim/final report within 15 days, the order said.
The next hearing of the case was fixed for April 20.