India, Feb. 6 -- The National Green Tribunal (NGT)'s Eastern Zone Bench on Friday ordered the Odisha government to constitute a joint committee to investigate allegations of rampant deforestation and unauthorised construction within the eco-sensitive zones of the Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary in Puri, causing ecological damage to a fragile ecosystem.

Petitioner Sanjeev Kumar Mohanty moved the tribunal over tree felling, deforestation, land clearing, and permanent construction within the sanctuary and its eco-sensitive zone allegedly without permission from the competent authority. He said such activities were destroying natural habitat and violating the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

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