Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has served notice on the authorities of Wonderla Amusement Park, located on the outskirts of Odisha capital, over allegations of encroachment on forest land and violation of environmental norms.

The green body also served notice on the Chief Secretary of Odisha, Secretaries to Forest and Revenue Departments, PCCF, Khurda Collector, DFO, local Tahsildar, State Pollution Control Board, IDCO, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Ground Water Board Director and Secretary to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change while hearing a case filed by environmental activist Dillip Kumar Samantaray.

All the 12 entities have been asked to submit their replies within a month.

Joint panel to conduct field survey

The NGT has ordered the formation of a joint committee to look into the allegations of violation of environmental norms by the authorities of the amusement park. The committee comprising PCCF, Khurda Collector and a representative of the State Pollution Control Board has been asked to conduct a field survey and submit a report within four weeks.

The next hearing on the case has been posted to August 11.

As per the allegations, one private entity has set up the amusement park at Kumbharbasta village in Khurda district by availing around 50 acres of land on lease from the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO).

The park using ground water without necessary approval, says petitioner 

However, the private entity has acquired 1 acre and 86 decimals of forest land without obtaining any approval in this regard from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said Samantaray in his petition.   

Besides, the authorities of the amusement park have illegally constructed boundary walls and water treatment plant on the encroached forest land, added the petitioner.

In addition to this, the private entity has not obtained the environmental clearance to set up the amusement park. Similarly, it has not received the necessary approval for utilization of ground water, alleged Samantaray.