Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), on Thursday, ordered a status-quo on the construction of a proposed bus stand by the Odisha Transport Department, which involves diverting an old water body at Padampur in Bargarh district.

The tribunal issued the order on a plea challenging the diversion of a water body for the construction of a block level bus stand at Padampur.

While the actual construction work has not yet begun, the transport department has already started filling the pond for the purpose of building the proposed bus stand.

"The plea alleges that the authorities proceeded without considering the availability of alternative land, the adverse impact of filling the water body on the environment and local residents, and the risk of future inundation of the locality as sto

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