NGT seeks list of illegal hotels along Marine Drive in Odisha’s Puri town

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 8

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the state Urban Development department to submit a list of illegal hotels constructed along the Marine Drive in Odisha’s Puri town within a month.

The Tribunal issued this order while hearing a petition filed by Subhas Dutt from Kolkata.

The petitioner had alleged that the hotels, illegally constructed along the Marine Drive, have polluted the sea water by releasing untreated waste and sewerage water in gross violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules.

It may be mentioned that a four-member tribunal of NGT comprising Justice Swatantra Kumar, Justice Shashidharan Nambiar, Debendra Agrawal and Prof UR Yousuf had earlier issued notice to the Odisha government, Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), Puri-Konark Development Authority (PKDA) and asked the hotels owners to file counters.

In its report, PKDA has informed that it has issued notice to 316 hotels of which 111 hotels have got stay order from the Odisha High Court.

The cases of 57 hotels under PKDA are sub judice, 77 hotels have filed petitions with the Urban Development department. Steps are being taken to demolish 32 hotels.

The Tribunal asked the PKDA to complete hearing of all 57 cases under it within a week while Urban Development department was directed the dispose of the cases of 77 hotels in a month.

The Tribunal also asked the PKDA to complete the demolition of 32 hotels and submit a report.

The next hearing of this case is scheduled on January 20.