TV
The Odisha government’s ambitious eco-tourism project at Deomali, the state’s highest peak located in Koraput district, has come under the scanner of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The tribunal has directed the state to obtain mandatory forest clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) within three months or face demolition of all constructions.
According to The New Indian Express, the Forest Department is currently reviewing the NGT’s order and actively working to secure the necessary clearance from the Centre as required under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
However, as a fallback, the government is also contemplating filing an appeal against the tribunal’s decision should clearance efforts prove unsuccessful.
NGT Cracks Down on Eco-Tourism Constructions
In its recent judgment, the Eastern Zonal Bench of the NGT, comprising Justice B Amit Sthalekar and expert member Arun Kumar Verma, came down heavily on the constructions carried out in the name of eco-tourism at Deomali.
The tribunal ruled that 10 tourist cottages, dormitories, dining halls, and other associated infrastructure built on 5.93 hectares of forest land had violated forest conservation norms as they were undertaken without the mandatory forest clearance.
The NGT emphasised that if approval from the MoEFCC is not secured within three months, the state must demolish the structures and restore the land to its original ecological condition.
It also cited the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, and the Forest Rights Act, 2006, while issuing strict orders against the diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes.
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Disputed Forest Status
The controversy stems from conflicting interpretations regarding the status of the land used for the project.
The Koraput Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Bhaskar Rao, had earlier argued that the land in question does not fall under any notified forest block or recorded forest area, and thus does not qualify as a ‘deemed forest.’
However, the tribunal was unconvinced, pointing out that village-level meetings for forming Van Surakhya Samitis had been held in the region, raising questions about the true status of the land.
Environmental Concerns Triggered Legal Challenge
The case was triggered by a petition filed in 2023 by the Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO), a conservation-focused non-profit. The petition flagged serious concerns over the unauthorised development threatening Deomali’s rich biodiversity.
The area, part of the Eastern Ghats and situated 5,486 feet above sea level, is known for its ecological sensitivity.
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A Multi-Crore Vision Under Threat
The Deomali project is part of the Centre’s Swadesh Darshan Scheme, which aims to develop integrated tourism infrastructure in culturally and ecologically significant areas.
The Odisha Tourism Department has sanctioned Rs 16 crore for the broader development of the Deomali region. Additionally, there is a separate proposal to establish an eco-tourism complex in the area with an estimated cost of Rs 4.5 crore.
