Home » National » Polavaram Project Notices Issued To Centre Others On Plea Alleging Environmental Clearance Violations

Polavaram project: Notices issued to Centre, others on plea alleging environmental clearance violations

The Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed by economist Pentapati Pullarao against an order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

ByPTI

Published Dec 29, 2022 | 6:42 PM ⚊UpdatedDec 29, 2022 | 6:50 PM

The Polavaram Project is a multi-purpose irrigation project on Godavari river. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Supreme Court has sought the response of the Centre and three state governments regarding a plea alleging violations in environmental clearance granted to the Polavaram Project — a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari river.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and MM Sundresh issued notices to the Centre and the governments of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha, and sought their replies.

“Issue notice, returnable in the month of February 2023,” the bench announced.

The petition

The top court was hearing a plea filed by economist Pentapati Pullarao against an order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which directed him to approach the apex court with his plea.

The petition filed through advocate Sravan Kumar alleged that the NGT, without considering the report of the joint committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, and the Polavaram Project Authority (Project Proponent), had abruptly closed the case.

Orders of National Green Tribunal on case. Dr.Pentapati Pullarao Vs Govt. Of India and Govt of India. On Polavaram Dam Environmental Violations#PolavaramDam #NationalGreenTribunal #NGT48 https://t.co/siglshWYKU

— Dr Pentapati Pullarao (@PentapatiPullar) February 25, 2021

“It is the submission of the appellant that the allegations pertaining to violations by the project authorities are relating to environmental violations, and non-implementation of mandatory and precautionary conditions imposed in the Environment Clearance,” the plea said.

Also Read: Telangana constructing illegal lift projects, alleges Jagan

Pullarao had alleged environmental violations at the site and claimed a huge quantity of waste material was being dumped on agricultural land near the project.

Fund crunch

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had on Wednesday, 28 December, sought ₹10,485.38 crore from the Centre as ad hoc payment for the Polavaram Project, besides clearing pending bills to the tune of ₹2,937.92 crore towards payments the state government had already made.

(Disclaimer: Only the headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed)