The National Green Tribunal has slammed Odisha government and the state pollution control board for permitting shops to operate on Puri sea beach. The Green Panel bench headed by its Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar has directed Odisha government to hold meetings with the state pollution control board, municipal bodies, water and sewage board to take action against almost 1,000 shops on the Puri beach generating waste. The Tribunal was hearing a petition filed by an environmental activist who had moved the green bench against mushrooming of encroachments and construction of commercial buildings on Puri beach in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone norms. The matter is listed for next hearing on 29th of this month.