Why it is in news?

• Next month’s Baliyatra festival got a nod from the East Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

Baliyatra Festival

• Bali Yatra means a journey to Bali. Bali Yatra is mainly celebrated in the state of Odisha (Orissa).
•  It is held on the full moon day in the month of Kartik which is considered to be the most auspicious month out of the 12 months of calendar.
• The Fair is held on the banks of Mahanadi River in the fort area of Cuttack city.
• As a ritual and a tribute to ancient sailors of the region people float artificial boats made of paper, cork, colored paper and banana tree barks in the river and water tanks. There is also a famous tradition of lighting small lamps in the hollow of the boat called Boita Bandana.

What was issue with NGT?

• NGT Eastern Zone bench members asked the Odisha government to explain why it would not pass coercive orders for violation of its previous orders on stopping any encroachment and dumping of waste materials on Mahanadi riverbed near Cuttack city.

Comparision with world culture festival

• While the culture festival by Sri Sri’s organisation was far away from the river, the one in Odisha is right on the riverbed.
• The petitioner in March this year had alleged that apart from massive encroachment of the riverbed by several government and private bodies over the years, the Baliyatra held in every winter, encroached upon at least 24 acres of the river.

National Green Tribunal

• National Green Tribunal is a statutory body established by a Government Notification using the powers of Section 3 of the NGT Act 2010. It has replaced National Environment Appellate Authority.

Chairperson and Members of NGT

• It has a full time chairperson and following members:
• At least 10 and maximum 20 Full time Judicial members
• At least 10 and maximum 20 Full time Expert Members

Qualification for Chairperson

• The person should have been either a Judge of India’s Supreme Court or Chief Justice of a High Court in India.

Qualification for Judicial member

• A Judge of Supreme Court of India, Chief Justice of High Court, Judge of a High Court

JURISDCITION

• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;
• The Water (Prevention and Control o[Pollution) Cess Act, 1977;
• The Forest (Conservation) Act,
• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981;
• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986;
• The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991;
• The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.