Bhubaneswar, Feb. 23 -- The Orissa High Court has put a temporary halt to Ballarpur Industries Limited's (BILT) proposal to reclassify the land use of its former paper mill located in Choudwar. This decision will remain effective until further discussions during the next court session.

Seeking an affidavit from the state government, the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Arindam Sinha and Justice MS Sahoo said, "State is to respond on petitioners' contention that alienation for purpose of industry and the purpose lost would thereby render basis for the alienation removed."

This intervention stems from a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Ramesh Chandra Nayak and six other residents from Choudwar. The petitioners requested leg...