Following the green signal given by the East Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Cuttack district administration has started preparations for the famous annual Baliyatra festival, which this year would be held from November 4 to 11 at the two Baliyatra grounds.
While an area of 10 acres on the upper Baliyatra ground has been earmarked for the week-long festival, the administration has mapped around 37 acres on the lower ground near the Mahanadi riverbed for erecting temporary stalls. The revenue officers have decided to hike the land rent by Rs 2 per square feet this year.
“The district Collector and other revenue officers on Wednesday visited both the grounds of the festival to oversee the preparations for the festival,” informed District Information Officer Pathani Rout.
It may be pointed out that the NGT last month had made it clear that it is not preventing holding up the festival. “However, the festival shall be held in same area as was held last year ensuring compliance of all pollution norms and the suggestions of the Court Commissioner,” the NGT Bench said in its order on September 19.
The NGT Bench had, however, cautioned that there shall be no activity of any kind undertaken on the beds of the river and beyond the permissible extent of the banks of Kathjodi and Mahanadi rivers without obtaining appropriate clearance from the authorities concerned.