Hyderabad HC refuses to stay NGT’s order on PRLIS
HYDERABAD: In a setback to the TS government, a division bench of the High Court on Thursday refused to stay the order passed by the National Green Tribunal at Chennai for constitution of an independent commission to ascertain whether the ongoing works relating to the Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme (PRLIS) were meant for drinking water or for irrigation purpose.
The bench was dealing with a petition filed by TS government challenging the decision of the NGT to constitute an independent commission to inspect the works relating to the first phase of PRLIS which passes through the Amrabad-Srisailam-Nagarjunasagar tiger reserve forest area.
The NGT, in its order, directed the commission to submit its report to it by July 19.
On Thursday, Telangana additional advocate-general J Ramachandra Rao contended that the order of the tribunal calling for a report on the said project was illegal. In fact, the impugned order was passed in the absence of an expert member of the tribunal bench, he pointed out and urged the court to stay the order.
While refusing to stay the order, the bench issued notices to the respondents — NGT registrar, secretary to the Union ministry of forests and environment, principal secretary (forests) of Telangana government and advocate B Harsha Vardhan who challenged the project works before the tribunal, to hear their version on the issue. The bench posted the matter to next week for further hearing.