CUTTACK: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a show cause notice to the deputy director general of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for the delay in making its stand clear on the dispute over Satkosia Sands Resort at Badmul in Nayagarh district under Mahanadi Wildlife Division.
On March 22 this year, the NGT’s East Zone bench in Kolkata had issued notices to the MoEF&CC seeking response to a petition which challenged the ongoing “harmful tourism activities” inside Satkosia Tiger Reserve and Satkosia gorge of Mahanadi river “under the garb of eco-tourism”.
When the petition was taken up on Monday, the tribunal found that the state government had filed an affidavit, but no reply was received from MoEFF&CC. Taking note of it, the bench of B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Arun Verma (expert member) said, “Today is 22.07.2024 and even after four months, the MoEF&CC has not cared to file its counter-affidavit, though the stand of the ministry with regard to the controversy in the present case is most relevant.”
The bench said on May 10, Dibyendra Narayan Ray, counsel appearing on behalf of MoEF&CC, had again prayed for and was granted four weeks’ time. The ministry was directed to file its counter-affidavit, particularly with reference to the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary and the issues involved in the present case.
“More than two months have passed but the MoEF&CC has not cared to file its affidavit. We, therefore, direct the deputy director general of forests at the MoEF&CC’s Integrated Regional Office in Bhubaneswar to be present in virtual mode on next date with his explanation as to why he is not filing counter-affidavit with regard to the issues involved in the present application and why per day cost be not imposed upon him as per provisions of the section 26 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010,” the bench said and posted the matter to August 20.
In the petition, the Wildlife Society of Orissa had contended that cottage tents with attendant dining huts set up during tourist season for eight months from October to May as part of the ‘Badmul Sand Resort’ in Satkosia area where bonfires are lighted at night and sand sports are organised along with folk music and dance, were extremely disturbing to the wildlife.
However, the state government in a counter affidavit had stated that pitching of seasonal tents temporarily during winter for accommodation of visitors is being done in a small patch adjoining the riverbank. Semi-permanent eco-cottages and dining hall have been constructed with eco-friendly materials.