BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to protect the environment, the Orissa High Court recently mandated the superintendent of police in Puri to arrest the promoters of a significant residential-cum-commercial project in Puri, which allegedly violated coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) norms.
A complaint was initially lodged by a Puri resident with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, prompting an inquiry into the project. This led to the Odisha Coastal Zone Management Authority getting involved.
In July, the Puri-Konark Development Authority (PKDA) intervened and ordered the promoters to halt construction on the site. Some promoters subsequently challenged this order in the Orissa High Court, which instructed them to ensure no construction took place until the final hearing.
Despite the court’s directive, construction continued at the site. The PKDA’s latest order noted, “Take notice that you have been directed to stop unauthorized construction on the plot, yet construction persists in defiance of existing laws.”
With evidence in hand, the PKDA returned to the Orissa High Court, which then directed the Puri police to arrest the promoters and present them in court. The court emphasized that the counsel for the petitioners had previously submitted an undertaking to cease all construction activities.
To enforce this undertaking, the superintendent of police, Puri, has been instructed to periodically monitor the site for ongoing construction. Should any be found, the violators are to be arrested and brought before the court on the next hearing date.
The Orissa High Court has scheduled the next hearing for November 11. “This is a clear instance of blatant violations. No one is above the law, and the Orissa High Court’s directive underscores this fundamental principle. This should serve as a lesson for all, especially promoters who disregard legal regulations,” noted real estate expert Bimalendu Pradhan.
