Cuttack: Amid confusion over Bali Jatra’s venue, the Orissa High Court has clarified that no restriction has been imposed on use of killa maidan for the upcoming trade fair to be held from November 5 to 12.
“It is abundantly clear that this court has not put any fetters on the district administration regarding use of upper Bali Jatra ground in organising the historic Bali Jatra, 2025. Hence, in our considered view, no permission is required from this court for the district administration to use some part of the upper Bali Jatra ground for organising the historic Bali Jatra. Motion seeking permission thus stands disposed of,” a special bench of Justices S K Sahoo and V Narasingh said in an order issued on October 9.
This clarification has now paved the way for the district administration to proceed with arrangements across both upper and lower grounds.
The state government had granted permission to host the festival, which commemorates the rich maritime history of Odisha, on land developed under the Mahanadi Riverfront Development Project near lower padia. Accordingly, all stalls were to be erected within the lower Bali Jatra ground, covering an area of 60 acres, with the upper Bali Jatra ground designated for parking purposes. However, several stakeholders, including political parties, senior citizens, corporates, and cultural groups, opposed the complete relocation, emphasising the upper ground’s historical and cultural importance as the traditional Bali Jatra venue.
The HC order followed a compliance affidavit filed by Cuttack collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde in accordance with the court’s earlier direction to explore feasibility of shifting all stalls to the lower Bali Jatra ground to decongest the Ring Road.
An Advocates’ Committee, constituted by the court on October 30, 2024, had suggested limiting the stalls to the lower ground with parking arrangements in the upper ground, while pointing at safety risks from heavy pedestrian movement between the two grounds, which it said could lead to accidents and obstruct emergency vehicle access to SCB Medical College and Hospital.
The Collector also mentioned widespread resentment over restricting the fair to the lower ground. He assured the bench that the administration has made necessary logistical arrangements, including a dedicated green corridor for emergency vehicles and VIP convoys.
What happened last year…
The HC had allowed for organising the open trade fair at both its traditional locations after the Cuttack Collector submitted that locating all the stalls in lower ground was not feasible since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had limited the use of reclaimed riverbed land to 34 acres. He further noted that the upper ground plots had already been auctioned to 601 private persons since October 26.
The HC, however, had advised the administration to consider locating the entire fair on the latter next year.
