The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report from Odisha on the allegation that construction activities have been undertaken illegally along the beach of the state's Puri town, a complainant said Friday.
"The commission has asked state Chief Secretary B.K. Patnaik to submit a report within six weeks," said Akhanda, managing trustee of the rights organisation India Media Centre (IMC).
"The beach has witnessed a large number of constructions in the past years. The government has remained a mute spectator to illegal activities," the activist, who lodged the complaint, told IANS.
Akhanda said the construction had been done in violation of environmental and coastal regulation rules. The commission has directed the chief secretary to explain the steps taken by the state government to remove such illegal structures, he said.
Puri, about 56 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, is a prominent tourist destination.