Any developmental activity or for that matter demolition of illegal constructions along the Puri-Konark marine drive shall be made in accordance to the provisions of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) under the Environment Protection Act of 1986 and not by any agency or local authority.
This was made clear by the Odisha High Court on Friday, thereby quashing a notification issued by the Puri-Konark Development Authority in May 2013 for demolition of at least 316 illegal constructions along the marine drive that include several hotels. Challenging the notification, several hoteliers had approached the High Court, and after completing the hearing, the HC had reserved its verdict on January 20 this year.
Disposing of the petitions, Justice Biswanath Rath observed that the PKDA notification issued by exercising the powers conferred on it by Section 124 of the Odisha Development Authority Act of 1982 is not applicable here as the region comes under CRZ. The High Court, however, observed that the PKDA could go ahead with its plan as per the CEZ norms.