‘Andhra govt misled NGT on RLIS works’

Hyderabad: The photographs in the inspection reports submitted by the Krishna River Management Board and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) clearly indicate that Andhra Pradesh was committing violations with respect to the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS). This was brought to the notice of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by the advocate […]

Hyderabad: The photographs in the inspection reports submitted by the Krishna River Management Board and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) clearly indicate that Andhra Pradesh was committing violations with respect to the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS).

This was brought to the notice of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by the advocate K Shravan Kumar, who is arguing the case on behalf of petitioner Gavinolla Srinivas. The case came up for hearing on Wednesday. Shravan Kumar argued that the AP government informed that the works were stopped from July 7.

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“When works were actually meant for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR), why did the AP government stop work? It should have continued,” he argued. Sources said the NGT, after seeing the photographs, had also opined that even a layman could understand that the works were not meant for preparing a DPR but actual foundation work.

The NGT later adjourned the case to September 16. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), in its inspection report, said the earlier procured construction materials were stored at the RLIS site.

Photographs of forebay, pump house, pipeline and delivery cistern and approach channel were enclosed with the report. In the inspection report on the status of RLIS, the Ministry said there were no signs of progress in project construction works and all construction equipment, machineries – drilling, batching plants, trucks, JCBs and labour hutment were under shutdown or in periodic maintenance condition.

The inspection was conducted by Dr. Suresh Babu Pasupuleti, Scientist-C, MoEF&CC, Integrated Regional Office (IRO) in Vijayawada on Monday.

The inspection was carried out at RLIS on downstream of Pothiredypadu Head Regulator in Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh following directions from the NGT to file an independent statement regarding allegations made in the application in respect of the alleged violation said to have been committed by Andhra Pradesh.

During inspection, R Muralinatha Reddy, Chief Engineer and District Water Resources Officer (DWRO) and other officials were present. It has been observed that the MoEF&CC granted three environmental clearances (ECs) for various canals of the project – Telugu Ganga Project (TGP) in 1988, Srisailam Right Branch Canal (SRBC) in 1995 Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanthi (GNSS) in 2006.

It has been observed that there were no signs of progress in project construction works and all equipment’s/machineries viz., drilling, batching plants, trucks, JCBs and labour hutment were under shutdown or periodic maintenance condition.

Earlier procured construction materials were stored at the project site. It has been stated by the project proponent that the works undertaken till date was required for preparing Detailed Project Report (DPR) for which NGT has permitted.

The project proponent submitted amendment to the existing environmental clearance to include RLIS to MoEF&CC and is being appraised by expert appraisal committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects.

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