3.70 cr to protect Puri sweet water zone

BHUBANESWAR: The state government sanctioned Rs 3.70 crore to build a fence around government land in the 316-acre sweet water zone at Chakratirtha Road in Puri. The fence will check encroachment and pollution.
Earlier, the sweet water zone in Puri was spread over 448 acre but a concrete structure has come up over 132 acre. The government is treating it as construction zone.
"The zone is a major source of water for Puri town and needs to be restored. The boundary wall will prevent groundwater pollution," said a government officer.
According to official sources, the boundary work would be completed before Nabakalebara. "According to a Orissa high court directive in 2010, the patch recognized as sweet water zone was handed over to public health and engineering department (PHED) for protection. So, neither slums nor any construction activity will be allowed there," said the officer.
On November 18, the Puri administration filed cases against 15 hotels and two apartments for violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms in the SDJM court.
The Puri Konark Development Authority survey revealed that there were 316 unauthorised structures on CRZ in Puri. The PKDA has already demolished 74 structures.