NGT seeks KRMB’s explanation, asks AP to stop Rayalaseema LIS works

Chennai bench of NGT was hearing a petition filed by Gavinolla Srinivas who said construction works on the project were continuing in violation of the NGT judgment

Hyderabad: Reiterating its orders against taking up any works pertaining to Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS) by the Andhra Pradesh government, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday sought an explanation from the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) on the contempt case filed against violations in the construction of the RLIS project.

The Chennai bench of the National Green Tribunal on Tuesday heard a petition filed by Gavinolla Srinivas who said construction works on the project were continuing in violation of the NGT judgment. The tribunal adjourned the case till February 24.

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Srinivas had earlier filed a petition stating that there were no environmental clearances for the RLIS project being constructed at Sangameshwaram. A Chennai bench headed by justice Ramakrishnan and Saibal Dasgupta had earlier directed that no construction should take place without obtaining necessary permissions. The petitioner submitted now that the construction work was going on in defiance of these orders.

The petitioner’s counsel Sravan Kumar brought to the notice of the bench that the Andhra Pradesh government had written a letter to the Union Minister of Environment stating that environmental permits were not required during the trial. He said the AP government could have approached the Supreme Court in case of any objections to the NGT verdict, but instead, the latter chose to write a letter to the Union Ministry of Environment stating that it does not need permissions for the project. He argued that the AP government was deliberately violating the NGT directives.

Additional Advocate General Ramachandra Rao, counsel for the Telangana government, agreed with the petitioner’s contention that the Telangana Irrigation department had also lodged a complaint with the KRMB last year and said the AP government was not stopping work despite the Board’s orders.

Advocate Madhuri Reddy who appeared on behalf of AP government counsel and senior advocate Venkataramani, sought adjournment of the hearing citing the latter’s busy schedule with Supreme Court cases. However, the petitioner’s counsel Sravan Kumar found fault with the AP government seeking adjournment for the fourth time on the violation case.

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