VIJAYAWADA: The National Green Tribunal on Monday directed AP government to obtain environmental clearances for three reservoirs that are being built as part of the Galeru-Nagari and Handri-Neeva projects in Chittoor district. The NGT directed the state government not to start construction without obtaining environmental clearances.
One Gutha Gunasekhar along with 42 others moved the NGT, alleging that the state government was constructing a reservoir at Avulappalli without environmental clearances. They contended that the state government falsely stated that the lands were barren, whereas they were growing mango orchards there.
Arguing on behalf of the petitioners, K Sravan told the seven-member NGT bench that the state government was going ahead with the construction of the reservoirs without considering available alternatives that would avoid submergence of the lands. He further stated that the government neither obtained any environmental clearance nor conducted any environment impact assessment study before proposing to construct the three reservoirs.
Even Central Water Commission stated that the three reservoirs are additional components to the proposed project, and environment impact assessment study and necessary clearances are mandatory before going ahead with the construction, argued Sravan. The state government, on the other hand, argued that there is no need for separate environmental clearances as the reservoirs are being built as part of the existing projects that have all clearances.
