Chief Secretary JK Mohapatra, accompanied by other top officials, on Wednesday visited several places of the city and held a meeting with the concerned local officials.
It may be noted that a Kolkata-based NGO has filed a complaint with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding illegal constructions along the Puri beach violating the Coastal Zone Regulation (CRZ), encroachments of the beach, poor sanitary conditions in the city, malfunctioning of the Bankimuhan waste water treatment plant which facilitates release of untreated waste water into the sea, large-scale consumption of firewood in the Jagannath Temple kitchen and poor waste disposal of the temple. The NGT asked the Chief Secretary to lead a probe into the complaints and file a report to it.
The Chief Secretary along with Forest and Environment Secretary RK Sarma, State Pollution Control Board Member lK Tiwary and RDC Arabinda Padhee visited the beach, defunct waste water treatment plant at Bankimuhan, the temple and the city as whole and held talks with concerned local officials.
District Magistrate NK Nayak and Executive Officer of Puri Municipality RK Pattnaik were present at the meeting, besides other officials. Puri Konark Development Authority (PKDA) Secretary said the PKDA has initiated 326 cases of illegal construction along the beach and in most of the cases demolition orders have been passed and cases are pending in various legal forums.