Jagannath Sena convenor Priyadarshan Mohanty has been allowed as a party in the case relating to pollution in Puri town before the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
On religious grounds, Mohanty is opposed to environmentalists’ move to stop use of firewood in the kitchen of the lord Jagannath Temple and for installation of an electric crematorium at the Swargadwar. It may be pointed out that Kolkata-based social activist Subhas Dutta has raised the pollution issue stating that the huge consumption of firewood in the kitchen of the Jagannath Temple kitchen and the burning of dead bodies with firewood at the Swargadwar are polluting the air and detrimental to the environment.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the State Government to file a report on the issue. while the tribunal has allowed Priyadarshan Mohanty as an intervener the next hearing is on January 15 .