Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notice to the Odisha government over construction of cottages atop Deomali, the highest mountain peak in the state.
Hearing a petition filed by the Wildlife Society of Odisha (WSO), a Cuttack-based environmental pressure group, the NGT’s Kolkata Eastern Zone Benchalso has asked Koraput district administration and State Biodiversity Board to respond to the notice in 4 weeks. The next hearing is on August 23.
The forest department is constructing 10 cottages, using all-weather cement fibre boards, on the Deomali hilltop to provide night stay facilities to tourists at Pottangi.
The petitioner alleged that the project spread over 10.4 hectares of forestland required prior approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and the construction was in violation of the Act. The WSO also pointed out that the government had violated Ministry of Environment, Forest Climate Change’s policy for eco-tourism in forest and wildlife areas by not involving local community or indigenous knowledge of making the house and household articles.
Apart from the 10 cottages, parking area, pathway with nature trail leading to Deomali peak, grand entrance gate with security cabin and ticket counter, opening of dining with kitchen, store and pantry, driver’s and staff dormitory, laundry and wash and reception, office with lounge and toilet are also proposed, it added.
“Full-fledged construction is on and the area is being converted into a township. Such uncontrolled development will have an adverse impact on the biodiversity since Deomali is home to endemic species of flora and fauna. The department is also planting about 1,000 tropical pine saplings brought from Assam for beautification of the landscape. We are also objecting to introduction of this foreign species there,” said. lawyer Sankar Pani, adding that it is reserve forest.
Notably, the Deomali Project is included under the Centre’s Swadesh Darshan Scheme for the development of infrastructure to boost inflow of tourists. It is in addition to Rs 16 crore sanctioned by the Tourism Department for integrated development of the hill.
