Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday directed the Odisha Transport Department to maintain status quo on the construction of a proposed bus stand at Padampur in Bargarh district, where an old pond is being filled to make way for the project.
The order came in response to a petition challenging the diversion of the water body for the block-level bus stand. Although construction had not formally commenced, authorities had begun filling the pond to prepare the site, sparking local opposition.
Appearing for the petitioners, advocate Sankar Prasad Pani argued that the project was being carried out without exploring alternative land options or assessing the environmental fallout. The plea highlighted that the pond had long functioned as a natural catchment for rainwater, a recharge source for the groundwater table, and a lifeline for nearby wells and farmlands. Its loss, the applicants claimed, would be “irreplaceable” in a region already prone to water scarcity.
The petition further warned that filling the pond could worsen the risk of flooding in Padampur, as storm water would be deprived of a natural outlet. Residents living close to the site also alleged that their homes had become more vulnerable to waterlogging and backflow after the surrounding land was artificially elevated by the ongoing fill-up.
After considering the submissions, the tribunal observed that the issues raised involved serious environmental concerns. Referring to the precautionary principle enshrined in Section 20 of the NGT Act, 2010, the bench directed the respondents to maintain status quo over the land in question and halted any further construction activity until the matter is examined in detail.
