NGT order casts shadow on Cuttack ‘Baliyatra’ this year

The famous ‘Baliyatra’ festival slated to begin from November 14 at the Mahanadi riverbed here has run into rough waters with the National Green Tribunal asking the state administration to refrain from allowing traders from erecting makeshift stalls on the riverbed.

“The Tribunal has ordered us to avoid allotting plots on the riverbed for makeshift stalls,” said Cuttack District Collector N C Mishra, quoting the NGT order passed on Tuesday.

Mishra, however, said the state government was planning either to move the Tribunal to review its order or to appeal against the order in the Supreme Court.