Bhubaneswar, July 23: The National Green Tribunal has issued bailable warrants against the Odisha’s forest and environment minister and his secretary for their failure to appear before it on Monday in a matter relating to the environmental protection of the Jagannath temple and the beach in Puri.

“We had asked our lawyer to appear before the tribunal on our behalf. But he failed to do so. We are filing a petition before the tribunal,” forest and environment minister Bijoyshree Routray told The Telegraph.

The tribunal issued bailable warrants against the minister and the principal secretary. The two can secure bail after furnishing security of Rs 20,000 each.

“Nobody appeared on their behalf despite our notices. The presence of the respondents is essential for fully and finally adjudicating the issues involved in the matter,” observed the tribunal bench, headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar.

The tribunal posted August 23 as the next date of hearing for the matter.

The matter came up following a petition filed by environmental activist Subhas Datta expressing concern over the condition of the 12th century shrine and its precincts.

“It’s an extremely important decision and a clear message to highly placed government officials who don’t care for the environment,” said Datta.

Datta, in his petition, had raised the issue of threat to the heritage site from smoke emitted from the burning of firewood in the temple kitchen. Firewood is burnt to prepare Mahaprasad for one lakh pilgrims every day.

The activist claimed that the practice not only called for deforestation, but firewood fumes might affect the sandstone surface of the temple in the long run. He urged the tribunal to issue directives for use of green fuel.

Datta also said that being close to the sea, the temple was already exposed to erosion from saline winds and a portion of the surface stone had decayed as a result.

Concern about safety of the ancient temple had earlier been raised by various agencies and individuals, including the state government. The Archaeological Survey of India, which has been entrusted with the conservation of the temple since 1975, has taken up the repair of the Singhadwar, which is the main entrance of the temple, and a few other structures on the complex.

The Calcutta-based green activist also raised the issue of environmental pollution caused by funeral pyres at Swargadwar, the mass cremation ground in the pilgrim town.

“Cremation with firewood at Swargadwar leads to air pollution,” said Datta. He suggested that the crematorium be either relocated or replaced by an electrically operated one.

Datta alleged norms of coastal regulation zone were blatantly violated in Puri. “It is shocking that instead of creating a buffer zone along the seashore, an unplanned concrete jungle has been allowed in clear violation of coastal regulations,” the activist told The Telegraph.

The petition also said untreated wastewater was being discharged into the sea.

The Archaeological Survey of India, Central Pollution Control Board, Odisha Pollution Control Board and Puri Municipality have also been made parties to the petition.