Cuttack, June 29, 2013: Every year nearly 1,000 mature and rare species of trees in the State are felled for the construction of chariots on the occasion of Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, including that of the world famous Rath Yatra of Puri.

The Odisha Government spends over Rs. 65.lakh every year for the construction of three majestic chariots for.Puri Rath Yatra alone.

While large portions of huge logs are wasted.during the construction of these chariots, the timbers of the.dismantled chariots after the festival are used as fuel wood.

Concerned over such an ecological ordeal every year, the Odisha Rationalist Society, a voluntary organisation involved in spreading scientific temperament among people by removing superstitious beliefs, has approached the Odisha High Court in the form of a PIL seeking a direction not to dismantle and dispose of the chariots every year.

“Instead of completely dismantling the chariots, the same should be reused in subsequent years with whatever possible repair required”, the petitioner stated in its petition contesting that the felling of huge number rare trees every year goes against the very spirit of Environment (Protection) Act and Forest (Conservation) Act and the Rules framed therein.

Making various departments of the State Government, including the State Chief Secretary and the Chief Administrator of Jagannath Temple Administration as respondents, the Petitioner has alleged that its earlier representations on the issue have not been paid heed to by the respondents.

Source: The Hindu, DT. June 29, 2013.