NGT Takes Action on Similipal Tiger Reserve Eco-Zone Delay
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued formal notices to the Odisha government and central environmental authorities over alleged failures in notifying the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) for the Similipal Tiger Reserve and regulating activities in its surrounding areas. This move comes in response to a petition highlighting significant environmental concerns.
Petition Alleges Unregulated Activities
The NGT’s East Zone Bench in Kolkata was hearing a petition filed by Santanu Kumar Bhukta, representing a Talcher-based NGO. The plea detailed large-scale unregulated construction, tree felling, drilling of bore wells, and dumping of plastic waste within the proposed eco-sensitive zone around the reserve.
Taking note of these submissions, the Bench, comprising judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Ishwar Singh, observed: “Prima facie the averments made in the application raise substantial questions relating to environment arising out of the implementation of the enactments specified in Schedule-I to the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.”
Notices Issued to Multiple Authorities
Accordingly, the Tribunal issued notices to several key officials, including:
- The chief secretary of Odisha
- The additional chief secretary of the forest, environment and climate change department
- The field director of Similipal Tiger Reserve
- Mayurbhanj district collector
- Divisional forest officer of Baripada
- Deputy director general of forests at MoEFCC’s regional office in Bhubaneswar
- The member secretary of the National Board for Wildlife
The respondents have been directed to file their replies within one month. Petitioner counsel Sankar Prasad Pani noted that the order issued by the Tribunal on February 24 was uploaded on Friday, March 13. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on April 30, 2026.
Background of the Delay
According to the petition, a draft notification proposing the eco-sensitive zone for the Similipal–Hadgarh landscape was issued on January 29, 2019. However, the final notification has not been issued even after more than six years, leading to ongoing environmental degradation.
The absence of a Zonal Master Plan for the ESZ has, according to the petitioner, resulted in unchecked construction activities near the reserve. These activities violate guidelines issued by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC).
The petitioner further stated that a representation highlighting these concerns was submitted on November 2, 2025, to several authorities. Yet, no effective action has been taken to regulate construction or halt tree felling in the eco-sensitive zone areas.
Importance of Similipal Tiger Reserve
Similipal Tiger Reserve, part of UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2009, spans approximately 2,750 square kilometers. The Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary covers about 2,305 square kilometers. Declared a sanctuary in 1979 and brought under Project Tiger in 1973, the reserve is renowned for its rich biodiversity.
It supports:
- Over 1,250 species of flowering plants
- 55 species of mammals
- 362 species of birds
The landscape also hosts Odisha’s largest populations of elephants and tigers, including rare melanistic tigers, and forms a crucial watershed for northern parts of the state.
