KalingaTV News Network
Kolkata: The Kolkata bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) today concluded its hearing of a petition filed against the holding of Bali Jatra on the Mahanadi riverbed, but reserved its verdict in the case. However, the court directed the Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) to submit its reply within seven days.
Hearing the petition filed by noted environmentalist Biswajit Mohanty, the two-judge bench of NGT said as the case is with it since long and all the parties have already submitted their answers, there is no need to schedule another date for hearing. However, the CDA was given another chance as it is the only party in the case which has not submitted its reply yet.
In his petition filed in March 2016, Mohanty had sought the NGT’s intervention to prevent Odisha Government from allowing the Mahanadi riverbed for erection of stalls as well as vehicle parking during this 10-day-long festival. He claimed that the river ecology was getting ruined by the massive dumping of plastic and other waste by visitors.
Ms Kalinga