The Orissa High Court has sought a response from the state government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) regarding a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that alleges illegal excavation, encroachment, and ecological destruction in the protected Mahendragiri Hills of Gajapati district.
Court Proceedings
Hearing the matter through virtual mode on Tuesday, a vacation bench comprising Justices K.R. Mohapatra and M.S. Sahoo adjourned the case until after the summer vacation. The adjournment came after Additional Government Advocate S.R. Pattnaik requested time to obtain instructions. The Deputy Solicitor General of India, P.K. Parhi, appearing for the ASI, along with the state counsel, was directed to take instructions on the matter.
Petitioners and Their Claims
The PIL was filed by Pradeep Kumar Bhuyan and three other residents of Gajapati district, who belong to the Sabar (Saora) tribal community. They claim to be hereditary worshippers associated with the sacred Mahendragiri Hill under the Paralakhemundi forest division. Advocate Shivsankar Mohanty made submissions on behalf of the petitioners.
The petition seeks immediate intervention to stop alleged unauthorised excavation, illegal construction, installation of artificial idols, and unlawful religious activities in and around the centrally protected Bhima, Kunti, and Yudhistira temples located on the hill. It also demands the demolition and removal of all alleged illegal structures and encroachments raised in violation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, forest laws, and environmental regulations.
Allegations of Illegal Activities
The petition alleges that certain private parties, under the guise of research work and the Mahendra Ashram, have undertaken illegal excavation and construction activities near the protected monuments. Photographs submitted before the court allegedly show excavation near the Kunti Temple, uprooting of trees near the Yudhistira Temple, and construction of a concrete road within prohibited areas surrounding the monuments.
Additionally, the plea raises objections to a proposed Mahendra Mela scheduled from June 1 to 13. The petitioners argue that mass gatherings and rituals during the event could severely impact the fragile ecology, biodiversity, and forest habitat of the region.
Ecological and Cultural Significance
According to the petitioners, Mahendragiri Hill is not only a sacred site for the Sabar and Kondh tribal communities but also an ecologically fragile mountain ecosystem officially recognised by the Odisha government. In November 2022, the state declared 4,250 hectares of Mahendragiri as a Biodiversity Heritage Site due to its rich biodiversity, endemic species, and tribal cultural significance.
The high court's intervention underscores the importance of protecting this unique heritage site from unauthorised activities that threaten its ecological and archaeological integrity.
