The Andhra Pradesh government has challenged the National Green Tribunal's decision to revoke the Environmental Clearance granted to the Avulapalli Reservoir project in the Supreme Court. The case was brought before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala. The senior advocate representing the state argued that the project is worth Rs. 3000 crores and that the monsoon season is approaching. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case on May 17, as it involves a public project. On May 11, the NGT had overturned the EC granted to the reservoir by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and imposed a fine of Rs. 100 crores on the Water Resource Department of the state. The NGT had criticized the department for implementing the project through falsehood and misrepresentation, in gross violation of environmental laws. The case had been filed by farmers who questioned the validity of the EC, arguing that it had been obtained for a single reservoir, while the government orders proposed three interconnected reservoirs.
TAGS: Andhra Pradesh Supreme Court National Green Tribunal Environmental Clearance Avulapalli Reservoir Mukul Rohatgi Chief Justice of India Justice PS Narasimha Justice JB Pardiwala SEIAA Water Resource Department penalty farmers appeal irrigation project environmental laws misrepresentation falsehood government orders.
