Jagannath temple, Puri

New Delhi, Oct. 24: The National Green Tribunal hearing a complaint about environmental pollution in Puri has asked a committee of experts to develop strategies to clean the city and examine the option of collecting fees from visitors.

In an order, issued earlier this week, the tribunal has directed the state’s chief secretary to chair a committee with other state officials and suggest methods to curb environmental pollution in Puri, especially in the areas around Swargadwar and the Jagannath temple.

The tribunal is hearing a complaint from Subhash Dutta, who has argued that the Odisha Pollution Control Board had substantially corroborated his concerns and that the Puri authorities should be asked to clean up the city.

The tribunal’s order follows a report submitted by the board earlier this year indicating pollution problems near the temple complex. The board found that the wastewater outlet at Penjanallah that drains discharge from the temple Rosasala into the municipal drain had suspended solids and other pollutants many times higher than the permissible safe limits.

The level of suspended solids in water samples was on average 4,830mg per litre in contrast to the permissible limit of 200mg per litre. Another measure of pollution called biological oxygen demand was 10,200mg per litre in contrast to limits of 75mg per litre.

The tribunal said the respondents had a “feeble attempt” to suggest that all was well.

“We have no hesitation in rejecting this feeble attempt,” the tribunal observed in its order delivered on October 22. “Factual data show the callous attitude on the part of all authorities, including the Jagannath temple management that is leading to serious environmental impacts in Puri.”

“We expect authorities, including the board to take steps to restore the environment as well as prevent further degrade,” it said.

It said the committee should examine whether it would be appropriate for the authorities to collect fees on account of the impact on the environment caused by the visitors. This option, the tribunal said, would be in line with the “polluter pays” principle.

A snapshop sample of air pollution suggested that the air quality at Swargadwar had tiny particles of pollutants at levels of 727 micrograms per cubic metre, more than seven times higher than the permissible standard of 100 microgram per cubic metre.

It learnt that water from the sea had reached the first floor of some hotels located within the coastal regulatory zone and 10-feed of sand had blocked some stretches of the road.

The tribunal has asked the committee, led by the chief secretary with secretaries of environment, pollution control, public health and a representative of the temple among its members, to submit a report outlining clean-up strategies within six weeks.

The committee has also been asked to track unauthorised constructions on the seashore and constructions within 500-metres of the high-tide line lying within the coastal regulatory zone and specify what actions the state or other authorities have taken against violators.

The tribunal has set December 5 as the date for the next hearing.