Cuttack, April 22: The state government has claimed before the National Green Tribunal that "it is not affecting the ecology of the Mahanadi river" by constructing temporary sheds on its river bed for the work of the ongoing sewerage system.

"The temporary sheds are not affecting to the river ecology. Rather, both the contractors engaged in the sewerage work are acting in the interest of general public of Cuttack city pursuant to the decision of the state government," executive engineer of Mahanadi south division Prasanta Kumar Das said in his affidavit filed on April 15.

The controversy over alleged encroachment on the Mahanadi river bed along the city for use of camps, stores and machinery parking lots for contractor companies has been going on before the tribunal since July last year when an environment activist sought its intervention for removal of all such things from the river bed.

Environment activist Biswajit Mohanty had filed the petition, alleging that contractors had occupied more than 10 acres of river bed near the Gadagadia temple by constructing permanent huts and stores. An estimated 500 workers stay in both the camps on either side of the linking road of 800 metres.

"Laying of concrete roads, allowing the contractors to make new buildings and carry out cement casting work are affecting the ecology of the river and violating the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986," Mohanty alleged in his petition, while seeking direction for eviction of unauthorised dwellers and clearance of the constructions from the river bed.

However, the state government has claimed that they are not affecting the river ecology and that their activities have no environmental impact on the river.

In a reply affidavit, Das claimed: "Two contractors, who have been entrusted with developing the sewerage system of Cuttack city, are having their temporary sheds on a portion of alluvial soil."

Alluvial soil is a fertile soil deposited by water flowing in river beds. It gets deposited where the river slows down.

The tribunal, which has been adjudicating on the petition since July last year, has posted the matter for detailed hearing on May 18.

In an interim order on July 15 last year, the tribunal said: "Considering the issues involved and the situation highlighted in the application, we are of the view that an interim order is called for. We, thus, for the moment, order that the Cuttack Municipal Corporation shall not dump debris and waste on the river beds of Mahanadi and Kathajodi and encroach thereupon until further orders. The district administration under the collector shall ensure that this order is strictly complied with."

In his affidavit, Das said the water resources department had taken steps for compliance of the order. The department had put up barricades to check movement of vehicles into the Mahanadi river bed for dumping of solid waste. Signboards with messages have also been put up at the sites.