Orissa HC seeks affidavit from govt on felling of trees for MLA quarters in Bhubaneswar

The Orissa High Court on Thursday directed the State government to submit an affidavit while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed against felling of trees for the construction of quarters for MLAs in Bhubaneswar. 

The court has asked the secretary of the general administration department to submit a reply through the affidavit mentioning the detailed report of the project including MLA quarters construction, felling of trees, and plantation.  

The Orissa High Court was hearing the PIL filed by social activist Jayanti Das, seeking a direction to stop cutting down of the trees.

Earlier in the day, school students came forward to protest the felling of trees on the stretch from Rabindra Mandap to Commissionerate Police headquarters in Bhubaneswar to pave the way for multi-storey building for MLAs.  

It is learnt that the multi-storied building of MLAs with around 300 quarters, garden, gym, rest house, parking lot and other modern-day amenities is expected to come up by the end of 2024 with an expenditure of Rs 275 crore.

The next hearing of the case has been scheduled for June 27.