Cuttack, July 27: The National Green Tribunal has received an appeal for disposal of the Bali yatra case so that the fair can take place as scheduled this year.

The Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee, in an affidavit before the tribunal, yesterday claimed that the fair was held for seven days "without obstructing the flow of river in any manner or polluting the water or air in any manner".

The tribunal's east zone bench in Calcutta was hearing a petition seeking intervention against encroachment on the Mahanadi river bed, dumping of debris, diversion of river bed for various uses, including holding of festivals such as Bali yatra.

Committee general secretary Bhikari Das filed the affidavit as an intervener in the case. "While filing the affidavit, we sought disposal of the case, because we need to start preparations for Bali yatra from the first week of September," the committee's counsel S.N. Sangneria told The Telegraph today. The fair is held in the first week of November.

"Our contention is that there is nothing left in the case as the tribunal-appointed court commissioner, after an inquiry, has already recommended for Bali yatra be allowed to take place at the expanded site on the Mahanadi banks," Sangneria said.

Every year, Bali yatra is organised over 37 acres - 23 acres in the Mahanadi river bed, near Gadagadia Shiv temple and 14 acres at the adjoining Killa Maidan. Over 60 per cent of the 1,400 to 1,500 kiosks

"Stalls were permitted to be put on extended Bali yatra field on alluvium deposit on the existing embankment close to Gadgadia temple. There is no flow of river where Bali yatra festival was held. Hence, putting up stalls and other activity has not impacted the river flow or likely to impact flow of water of Mahanadi river," the report added.

Alluvial soil is a fine grained fertile soil deposited by water flowing over flood plains or in river beds and is governed by the Bengal Alluvion and Delluvion Regulation, 1825, which empowers the collector to attach and manage such land.