Petitioner Urges NGT to Halt Alleged Illegal Tree Felling in Baripada Development Project
A Kendrapada-based petitioner has urgently sought the intervention of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in a contentious case involving the alleged large-scale felling of trees for a proposed urban development project in Baripada, Odisha. The project, valued at approximately Rs 28 crore, has sparked significant environmental concerns, prompting legal action to address potential violations of key conservation statutes.
Details of the Petition and Alleged Violations
In a petition filed before the NGT's east zone bench on April 7, petitioner Pratap Chandra Mohanty, represented by advocate Sankar Prasad Pani, has called for immediate relief. He has urged the tribunal to declare the tree felling illegal under the Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam 2023 and to direct the responsible authorities to restore the site to its original condition. The NGT has not yet scheduled a hearing for this matter, leaving the allegations pending judicial review.
Mohanty claims that more than 100 trees were systematically cut down using chainsaws starting from April 4. This activity was part of the development of the jubilee park and Jhinjiri pond under the jurisdiction of the Baripada municipality. According to the petition, the stumps of the felled trees were subsequently cleared using earth-movers and other heavy machinery, further exacerbating the environmental impact.
Project Scope and Procedural Lapses Highlighted
The urban development project spans nearly nine acres of land, which includes areas classified as forest (jungle), water body (jalasaya), and wasteland (patita). While the Baripada municipality issued the work order, the execution has been undertaken by the National Federation of Farmers’ Procurement, Processing and Retailing Cooperatives of India Ltd (NACOF). The petitioner has raised serious procedural lapses, alleging that no prior approval was obtained from the divisional forest officer in Baripada before initiating the tree felling.
Furthermore, Mohanty cited a 2011 order from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), which mandates that projects involving both forest and non-forest land require central clearance before any activity can commence. This alleged oversight forms a critical part of the legal challenge, suggesting a breach of established environmental protocols.
Ecological Concerns and Legal Framework
The petition also flags significant ecological concerns, emphasizing that the site, locally known as 'pakhi vihar,' has long served as a year-round habitat for various bird species. The alleged tree felling is described as particularly damaging to this delicate ecosystem, potentially disrupting biodiversity and local wildlife. In addition to violations under the Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam 2023, the petition alleges breaches of provisions under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, underscoring the multifaceted nature of the environmental impact.
Senior officials, including additional chief secretaries of the forest and housing departments, the Mayurbhanj collector, the divisional forest officer, the Odisha Biodiversity Board, the Baripada municipality, the MoEFCC, and NACOF, have been named as parties in the case. This broad inclusion highlights the widespread institutional involvement and the petitioner's aim to hold multiple entities accountable for the alleged environmental degradation.
As the NGT prepares to consider this petition, the case underscores ongoing tensions between urban development initiatives and environmental conservation efforts in India. The outcome could set a precedent for how similar projects are evaluated and regulated in the future, balancing economic growth with ecological sustainability.
