Andhra govt moves HC over NEAA order on Polavaram
Andhra Pradesh government moved the High Court challenging the order of National Environmental Appellate Authority quashing the environmental clearance for the prestigious Polavaram multipurpose irrigation project.
By PTI |
HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh government today moved the High Court challenging the order of National Environmental Appellate Authority (NEAA) quashing the environmental clearance for the prestigious Polavaram multipurpose irrigation project.
In its order on December 24, the NEAA, Delhi, cancelled the clearance granted by the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment in 2005.
The order was based on a complaint filed by Hyderabad-based NGO Academy of Mountain Environics which alleged that the Rs 8,000 crore project would displace over two lakh people, mostly tribals, and lead to submergence of vast tracts of tribal lands.
The long-pending project at Polavaram in West Godavari district, christened Indira Sagar, is aimed at providing irrigation to 24 lakh acres spread over six coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh--Krishna, West Godavari, East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam.
The government, in its writ petition, contended that it had obtained all necessary clearances from the Centre in October 2005 by adhering to the prevailing guidelines.
The Appellate Authority's order cancelling the environmental clearance is unfortunate and appears to be based on new set of guidelines framed after the Centre gave clearance to Polavaram project, state Major Irrigation Minister P Lakshmaiah said.
The NEAA had said in its order that the government had failed to conduct public hearing in neighbouring Orissa and Chhattisgarh though they would be affected by the project.
In its order on December 24, the NEAA, Delhi, cancelled the clearance granted by the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment in 2005.
The order was based on a complaint filed by Hyderabad-based NGO Academy of Mountain Environics which alleged that the Rs 8,000 crore project would displace over two lakh people, mostly tribals, and lead to submergence of vast tracts of tribal lands.
The long-pending project at Polavaram in West Godavari district, christened Indira Sagar, is aimed at providing irrigation to 24 lakh acres spread over six coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh--Krishna, West Godavari, East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam.
The government, in its writ petition, contended that it had obtained all necessary clearances from the Centre in October 2005 by adhering to the prevailing guidelines.
The Appellate Authority's order cancelling the environmental clearance is unfortunate and appears to be based on new set of guidelines framed after the Centre gave clearance to Polavaram project, state Major Irrigation Minister P Lakshmaiah said.
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The NEAA had said in its order that the government had failed to conduct public hearing in neighbouring Orissa and Chhattisgarh though they would be affected by the project.
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