Cuttack: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to both the central and Odisha state governments over alleged large-scale environmental violations in the construction of the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport at Puri. The authorities have been asked to respond within four weeks.Puri Airport
The notices follow a petition filed by 10 local residents, led by Surendra Tapasu, seeking an interim stay on ongoing works such as the approach road, boundary wall, and material stockyard at the Sipasarubali mouza site. The petition alleges that the project began without securing mandatory clearances, including Environmental Clearance (EC), Forest Clearance (FC), and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) approval.
The petitioners, represented by advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy, argued that tree felling in the cyclone-prone coastal zone undermines the principles of sustainable development. A bench comprising Judicial Member Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Dr. Afroz Ahmad has directed responses from the Union ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Civil Aviation, and senior Odisha officials including the Principal Secretary (Forest & Environment), Additional Chief Secretary (Commerce & Transport), Puri Collector, and Divisional Forest Officer. The matter will be heard again on October 10.
According to the petition, over 13,500 trees—including casuarina and cashew plantations that act as coastal bio-shields—have already been cut. A report by the Bhubaneswar regional office of the Environment Ministry highlighted the importance of these plantations in protecting villages from frequent cyclones.
The 471-hectare airport site includes nearly 28 hectares of classified forest land and falls within CRZ-III, where development is typically restricted. Its proximity to the Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary, a habitat for blackbucks, and nesting areas of Olive Ridley turtles raises further ecological concerns. The project may also affect the Central Asian Flyway near Chilika Lake, a critical route for migratory birds.
Additionally, the petition questions the recent amendment to the Puri-Konark master plan, which reclassified the project area from a “green zone” to a “tourist infrastructure zone,” enabling airport construction.