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Petition filed against constructions near zoo

CUTTACK: Taking strong exception to blatant ‘unauthorized’ constructions coming up close to Nandankanan Zoological Park, the Orissa High Court has set up a one-man advocate commission to look into the entire facts and sought for a report from it. The commission has been asked to submit its report in four weeks.

Taking up a petition in this regard, the bench of Chief Justice A.K. Ganguly and Justice B.N. Mohapatra on Tuesday expressed shock over the violation of court orders in this regard.

The High Court in 2002 passed an order banning all types of constructions within one-km radius along the park.

About six years ago, a journalist Zakir Khan had sought HC’s intervention for setting up a ‘green belt’ around the zoological park to protect its environment.

Putting a stop to any type of construction around the park, the HC had also ordered not to convert the status of the land coming within one-km radius of the park. Even all types of reclamation in the area were banned with an aim to set up the green belt in the locality.

Alleging gross violation of the court order, the petitioner once again moved the court in a miscellaneous case stating that unauthorised constructions in the area is continuing unabated.

The petitioner also pointed out that due to absence of a green cover, the ecological balance of the park has been disturbed thereby bringing untold miseries to the animals and birds housed inside.

Adjudicating over the petition, the bench decided to set up a commission to enquire into the entire allegations. Advocate Goutam Mishra of the HC has been appointed the commission and he has been asked to conduct a detailed study and file a report.

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