Cuttack's Sati Chaura Dumping Yard Relocation Awaits Additional Land Allocation
The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has formally informed the Orissa High Court that the contentious transit dumping yard at Sati Chaura will only be shifted once an additional 20 acres of land, as requested by the civic body, is officially allotted. This submission came during a recent hearing, highlighting a critical dependency in resolving long-standing pollution and public health issues in the densely populated locality.
Court's Directive and Immediate Halt to Dumping Operations
On January 15, the Orissa High Court issued a decisive order for an immediate cessation of municipal waste dumping at Sati Chaura. The court mandated authorities to take concrete steps for relocating the transit yard, which has been a source of significant environmental and health concerns. The yard functions as a temporary stacking point for garbage collected from various parts of Cuttack before it is transported to the primary dumping site at Chakradharpur, located on the city's outskirts.
Legal Proceedings and Public Interest Plea
A two-judge bench, overseeing civic matters in the city, issued this direction in response to a plea from the High Court Bar Association advocates' committee. The committee argued that continuous dumping in this busy area was causing severe inconvenience and posing serious health risks to residents. The bench, comprising Justices K R Mohapatra and V Narasingh, has been actively monitoring the situation to ensure compliance with environmental and public welfare standards.
CMC's Detailed Submission and Land Utilization Plan
During the latest hearing on February 12, CMC Commissioner Kirandeep Kaur Sahota, appearing via virtual mode, provided a comprehensive update. She clarified that nine acres of land already allotted by the district administration would be utilized for establishing compressed bio gas and green charcoal plants. "Once the additional 20 acres of land as applied for is provided, the dumping yard at Sati Chaura shall be shifted," Commissioner Sahota stated emphatically, underscoring the corporation's commitment to the relocation once the land requirement is met.
Administrative Assurance and Timeline for Land Identification
Additional District Magistrate-cum-Nodal Officer for Cuttack, Kamaljit Dash, informed the court that while a nine-acre land parcel at Khaira Mouza under Tangi Choudwar tehsil has already been handed over to CMC, the corporation's application for additional land is currently under active process. Dash assured the court that the necessary land would be identified and advance possession granted within seven days, demonstrating administrative urgency in addressing the issue.
Court's Monitoring and Future Compliance Deadlines
Taking note of these submissions, the two-judge bench directed the ADM-cum-nodal officer and the CMC commissioner to file compliance affidavits by March 6, 2026. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on March 12, 2026, ensuring ongoing judicial oversight to guarantee that the relocation proceeds as planned and that all environmental and public health concerns are adequately mitigated.
