The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Centre and the Odisha government over alleged violations of environmental norms in the Shree Jagannath International Airport project at Puri.
The tribunal has directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Ministry of Civil Aviation, Odisha’s Commerce and Transport Department, Forest and Environment Department, Puri Collector, and the Divisional Forest Officer to submit their replies within four weeks. The next hearing is scheduled for October 10, according to The New Indian Express.
Residents Seek Immediate Halt
A group of Puri residents, led by Surendra Takasu, filed a petition seeking an immediate halt to construction activities — including the approach road, boundary wall, and stockyard — at the project site in Sipasarubali Mouza.
The petition alleged that the project lacks mandatory environmental, Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), and forest clearances. It further warned that over 13,500 trees, including crucial shelterbelt plantations that protect the coast from cyclonic storms, are at risk.
Ecological & Wildlife Concerns
A MoEFCC regional office site inspection report cautioned that removing cashew and casuarina plantations — which serve as natural bioshields — could heighten cyclone vulnerability and expose nearby villages to greater risk.
The petitioners also raised concerns about the project’s proximity to Balukhand Wildlife Sanctuary, Olive Ridley turtle nesting grounds, dolphin habitats, and the Central Asian Flyway near Chilika Lake, a critical migratory bird route.
Aviation Safety Under Scrutiny
The NGT proceedings coincide with growing concerns over aviation safety in Odisha. Earlier this month, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) flagged frequent bird strikes at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar.
In a letter to Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, the DGCA pointed to unauthorised slaughterhouses, roadside meat and fish vending, and open waste dumps within a 10 km radius of the airport as major contributors to the problem.
