Synopsis: In response to a complaint alleging irregularities in the environmental clearance given to the Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project, the Supreme Court has requested a response from the Center and other parties. In response to a complaint alleging irregularities in the environmental clearance given to the Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project, the Supreme Court has requested a response from the Center and other parties.
In order to get responses, a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and M. M. Sundresh sent notices to the Center, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha. The bench commanded, "Issue notice, returnable in the month of February 2023."
The Supreme Court was hearing an appeal economist Pentapati Pullarao made in opposition to a National Green Tribunal judgement directing him to present his case in front of the high court. According to the petition submitted through Attorney Sravan Kumar, the NGT abruptly closed the case without taking into account the report of the Joint Committee of the Ministries of Environment and Forests, Jal Shakti, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, and the Polavaram Project Authority (Project Proponent).
The plea said that the appellant "is of the contention that the allegations of violations as put up are linked to environmental violations and non-implementation of mandatory and precautionary conditions established in the Environment Clearance by the project authorities."
Pullarao said there were environmental violations at the project site and that a significant amount of rubbish was being dumped on agricultural property nearby. On Wednesday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy requested Rs 10,485.38 crore from the Centre as an ad hoc payment for the Polavaram irrigation project in addition to paying off Rs 2,937.92 crore in outstanding bills the state government has against payments it has already made in relation to the project on the Godavari river.
