NGT Flags Environmental Violations in Puri Airport Project, Seeks Government Response
Puri, September 14, The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued formal notices to both the Central and Odisha governments over alleged environmental violations in the construction of the Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri.
The tribunal has directed multiple agencies—including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Ministry of Civil Aviation, and Odisha’s Forest and Environment Department—to respond within four weeks. The next hearing is scheduled for October 10.
The petition, spearheaded by local activist Surendra Takasu, calls for an immediate halt to construction at the Sipasarubali Mouza site. It alleges that the project lacks mandatory environmental, Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), and forest clearances. Over 13,500 trees, including vital shelterbelt plantations that protect the coast from cyclones, are reportedly at risk.
A site inspection by MoEFCC’s regional office warned that removing cashew and casuarina plantations could increase cyclone vulnerability and endanger nearby villages.
The project’s proximity to ecologically sensitive zones—including the Balukhand Wildlife Sanctuary, Olive Ridley turtle nesting grounds, dolphin habitats, and the Central Asian Flyway near Chilika Lake—has further raised alarms.
Coinciding with the tribunal’s action, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has flagged frequent bird strikes at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport.
The DGCA cited unauthorised slaughterhouses, roadside meat vending, and open waste dumps within a 10 km radius as contributing factors.
As environmental and aviation safety concerns mount, the future of the ambitious airport project hangs in the balance
