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NGT orders probe on illegal mining by YSRCP leaders in AP!

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NGT orders probe on illegal mining by YSRCP leaders in AP!

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took a serious view of the reports being published in the media about illegal mining activities undertaken by ruling YSRCP leaders in East Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts.

Reports of YSRCP mining mafia looting bauxite and laterite mines in AP have created a furore in AP.

The NGT took cognizance of these reports and ordered an enquiry into the issue.

The NGT formed an inquiry committee to visit the mining sites and examine how the mining mafia violated the rules and done mining illegally.

The NGT asked the AP government to take action against violators.

It formed a committee with officials from mining and pollution control departments to probe the issue at ground level and submit a report to NGT.

The NGT asked the committee to examine how roads were laid illegally in reserve forest areas to reach mining sites and how a large number of trees were cut for the purpose.

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Telangana approaches NGT over Andhra’s irrigation project

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Telangana approaches NGT over Andhra’s irrigation project

The Telangana government has approached the National Green Tribunal to restrain Andhra Pradesh from executing the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS) and to seek action against it for contempt.

The government filed a petition in the NGT praying for orders to stop the work on the project and action for wilful violation of the NGT’s judgment dated October 29, 2020.

It requested the NGT to hold physical inspection in view of the “aggravated form of contempt”.

“Restrain the state of Andhra Pradesh from executing Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme without the prior environmental clearance approvals from the Union Environment Ministry and Union Jal Shakti Ministry and Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) as per Section 84 of A.P. Reorganisation Act, 2014,” reads the petition.

Telangana also sought against SPML Infra Ltd, the agency executing the actual work. The Union Environment and Forest Ministry, Union Jal Shakti Ministry, the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, the KRMB, and the agency executing the work have been made respondents.

Meanwhile, the Telangana government has also written a letter to the KRMB, seeking a meeting of the full board after July 20 instead of the meeting of a three-member committee.

Telangana’s Special Chief Secretary, Irrigation, Rajat Kumar, in his letter to the KRMB Chairman, said it was surprising that the meeting of the three-member committee has been called to discuss only the issues raised by Andhra Pradesh.

He demanded that this meeting be cancelled and a meeting of the full board be convened after July 20 to discuss critical issues raised by Telangana. He sought a discussion on revision of the water sharing ratio of Krishna river waters for current year, steps to stop construction of illegal RLIS and RDS right canal by Andhra Pradesh immediately, steps to stop excess diversion of water by Andhra Pradesh from Pothireddypadu head regulator, and other projects and issues.

Telangana also rejected the demand of Andhra Pradesh to stop power generation from Srisailam reservoir. The official pointed out that project was sanctioned by Planning Commission in 1963 as a hydro-electric project for supplying water to Nagarjuna Sagar project by power generation.

The letter mentioned that water supply systems in Telangana are predominantly dependent on lift irrigation schemes requiring huge energy inputs during the Kharif season. “As such, there is currently a severe power exigency in the state. Further, the process of power generation in Srisailam will ensure the transmission of sufficient waters to Nagarjuna Sagar project which is critical for meeting the needs of agricultural and drinking water requirements of Telangana,” reads the letter.

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NGT serves notices to Jagan govt on illegal sand mining in East Godavari

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NGT serves notices to Jagan govt on illegal sand mining in East Godavari

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday served notices to the Jagan government over the illegal sand mining in parts of the state, mainly in East Godavari.

Hearing a petition filed by E Venkatapathi Raju who sought action to prevent illegal sand mining in Rajole, Antarvedi and different parts of East Godavari, the NGT said it is the duty of the government to provide complete protection to the natural resources as a trustee of the public at large.

Further, the green panel has asked the government to constitute a committee to assess the loss to the environment and loss of natural resources. The petitioner also brought to the notice of the green panel that illegal cultivation of prawns was rampant along coastal East Godavari.

The NGT served notices to the Andhra Pradesh government, Central Environment Department, Central Pollution Control Board and Central Mining Department.

The green tribunal also ordered the Andhra Pradesh Coastal Regulatory Authority, East Godavari District collector, Central Environment Department and Central Pollution Control Board to constitute a panel to submit a detailed report on the illegal sand mining activity in East Godavari district. The NGT ordered the concerned departments to submit a report within three months from the receipt of its notice.

On its part, the Andhra Pradesh government denied any illegal sand mining. Hearing the arguments, the NGT has posted the case to October 8 for further hearing.

The new sand policy adopted by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has kicked up a political storm. Under the new policy, the Jagan sarkar took over all aspects of sand mining, including its supply, with the AP Mineral Development Corporation as the nodal agency.

TDP president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had often raised the issue of illegal mining which had led to artificial sand scarcity during the last five months, thereby affecting the livelihood of those who relied on the construction sector.

Even YSRCP leaders seem to be mighty displeased over Jagan’s sand policy. Vinukonda YSRCP MLA Bolla Brahma Naidu earlier had stated that the sand mafia was operating rampantly in his own constituency Vinukonda which is close to the Krishna River.

YSRCP MLA Kileru Rosaiah bemoaned that the sand was not reaching stock points, while Kothapet YSRCP legislator Jaggi Reddy slammed the APMDC saying it had miserably failed to supply sand to everyone. Further, he said the APMDC has failed to take steps to ensure transparency in sales and transportation of sand. Another YSRCP legislator Jaggi Reddy found fault with the online sale of sand. He said the moment one attempts to book sand through online, the sales seem to be over in five minutes.

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Has Jagan Circar made poor arguments before NGT?

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Has Jagan Circar made poor arguments before NGT?

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the AP government to stop the multi-crore lift irrigation projects of Pattiseema, Purushottampatnam and Chintalapudi with immediate effect. The orders were issued as there are no environmental clearances for these three projects. The NGT issued the orders based on the petitions filed by senior leader Vatti Vasanth Kumar and Srinath Reddy.

The opposition TDP leaders alleged that AP lost the case just because Jagan Circar deliberately didn’t make strong arguments before the NGT. They are arguing that these projects will be used only till the Polavaram lifeline project is completed. But because of the petitions, Andhra can no longer use Pattiseema to divert the Godavari river waters to meet the needs of farmers in Krishna and Godavari deltas.

Now the questions are coming up whether the YCP government would file review petitions or not. Analysts say that the fate of these projects will now depend on the financial support from the Centre. Jagan Circar is giving top priority only to the Navaratnalu cash transfer schemes which are taking a lion’s share of the state’s internal revenue.

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NGT clears hurdles for construction of new Andhra capital

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NGT clears hurdles for construction of new Andhra capital

NGT clears hurdles for construction of new Andhra capital

Clearing the hurdles in the construction of Andhra Pradesh’s new state capital Amaravati, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday refused to set aside the environmental clearance.

It permitted the state government to go ahead with the work on the new capital, while complying with the stipulations laid down by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The new capital of Andhra Pradesh is coming up on the southern banks of the Krishna river in Guntur district.

Several persons had filed petitions in the NGT against the environmental clearance given to the project on the grounds that it would cause damage to environment.

The green panel, however, said that the project falls under the Category B of the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification of 2006 and imposition of additional conditions in the environmental clearance were necessary.

It formed two committees to have requisite regulatory control over the performance of the project proponent.

A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, asked the project proponent to conduct a comprehensive study on hydro-geomorphology of the area with a view to effectively plan water retention ponds and reservoirs, storm water drains and their interconnectivity.

The tribunal also directed the project proponent to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 5 crore and said it would be liable to be encashed if any conditions of the clearance was violated.

The judgement came on a plea filed by activist P. Srimannarayan, E.A.S. Sarma and others which claimed Amravati was a flood-prone area and the state government had not considered the ecological and environmental aspects of the project.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu hailed the judgement, saying it removed all obstacles in the construction of Amaravati. He reiterated that his government is committed to build the new state capital which every citizen will be proud of.

Naidu attended the second meeting of the Joint Implementation Steering Committee with with Singapore’s Minister of Trade and Industry S. Iswaran here on Friday.

They discussed Singapore’s involvement in the development of Amaravati, solid waste management projects, district cooling systems and skill development programmes.

Naidu told the meeting that the capital city will not become a concrete jungle, which exploits natural resources. He said that Amaravati will be a dynamic city, equipped with modern technology.

“1,500 electric vehicles will be introduced soon, and will be promoted extensively. The city will be planned in such a way that it should not take more than 30 minutes to travel to any part. The public transport system will also be a primary backbone, making it the most liveable city,” he said.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

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