The court mandates strict adherence to environmental laws and proper handling of mining proposals under jurisdictional guidelines.

O R D E R

[1} I.A. NOS. 149686 & 149687 OF 2025

1. The limited grievance in the present applications is that though the matter is pending before the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (for short “SEIAA”) for permitting the mining activities, the SEIAA is not considering the same.

2. We dispose of the present applications with the direction to the SEIAA to consider the applications of the present applicant(s) for the grant of mining lease strictly in accordance with law and as per the orders passed by this Court on earlier occasions.

3. We expect the SEIAA to take a decision either way as expeditiously as possible and preferably within three months from today.

[2] A. NO. 132125 OF 2025 WITH I. A. NO. 132266 OF 2025 IN WRIT PETITION (C) NO. 171 OF 1996 List on 08.08.2025.

[3] I.A. NOS. 167008 & 167010 OF 2025

1. These applications have been filed seeking the following prayers:

a) Quash the impugned RFP dated 05.06.2025 floated by OTDC for the Rs.91 crore tourism project within and around Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary and its Eco-Sensitive Zone, as being illegal and in violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, the Forest (Conservation) Act , 1980, the Environment (Protection) Act , 1986, and the MoEF&CC Guidelines on Sustainable Ecotourism, 2021;

b)Restrain the Respondent State from proceeding with any activity under the said RFP or related project, pending full compliance with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Forest (Conservation) Act , 1980, ESZ Notification dated 07.06.2017, and the Eco-tourism Guidelines, 2021;

c) Direct the Respondents to place on record all statutory approvals, if any, obtained for the said project, and disclose the status of the Zonal Master Plan and Forest/Wildlife clearances;

d)Direct the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to independently examine the legality and ecological impact of the tourism infrastructure and development activities proposed or undertaken within and around the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, including the role of the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation and other concerned authorities

2. The perusal of the application would reveal that the process is only at the stage of request for proposal for appointing an architectural consultant.

3. This Court has, time and again, prescribed as to what activities are permitted in the Wildlife Sanctuary as well as the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). The authorities ought to be aware of the orders passed by this Court.

4. At the cost of repetition, we direct that the State Government, while finalizing the proposal for carrying out any activities either within the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary or in its ESZ, should take into consideration the earlier orders passed by this Court.

5. With the aforesaid observations, these applications are disposed of.

[4] I.A. NOS. 167477 & 167479 OF 2025

1. Issue notice, returnable on 12.8.2025.

2. In addition to the usual mode, liberty is granted to the petitioner to serve notice through the Standing Counsel for the respondent/State [ 5 ] I.A. NO.280902/2024 WITH I.A. NOS. 91650 & 91651 OF 2025 WITH I.A. NO. 152465 OF 2025 (CEC REPORT NO. 30/2025)

1. IA No. 280902 of 2024 has been filed seeking following prayer:

a) Issue appropriate orders/directions and permit the Applicant for the grant of permission/Directions for Diversion of 21.92 ha of Forest land in Bevanurmalai Reserved Forest of Pennagaram Range of Dharmapuri Forest Division for Raw Water Pumping main, booster Pumping Station 110/33 kv Substation and 110 kv Transmission line under Hogenakkal combined water supply Scheme Phase – II in Dharmapuri District.

2. This Court vide order dated 16.04.2025 had requested the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to examine the issue and to submit its report before the next date of hearing.

Accordingly, the CEC had submitted its report on 02.07.2025.

4. The CEC, vide its report, ha