HYDERABAD: In a significant development, the National Green Tribunal in Chennai on Tuesday appointed an independent commission to look into the alleged irregularities and illegalities in the construction of Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) in Telangana.
The said commission comprising Prof Yusuf, retired NGT expert member as its chairman, and other members, will submit its report on July 19.
A two-member bench headed by Justice MS Nambiar was dealing with an application filed by B Harsha Vardhan challenging the action of the state government in going ahead with first phase PRLIS works which passes through Amrabad-Srisailam-Nagarjunasagar Tiger reserve areas without clearances from the forest and environment departments.
The petitioner contended that PRLIS is an irrigation project and it was designed and floated by the department concerned without any clearances in the name of drinking water project.
In fact, clearances under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and the Office memorandum of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change are mandatory for the projects which pass through reserve forest areas, he noted.
On the other hand, the government counsel claimed that the project was intended to provide drinking water to 1,131 villages enroute to Hyderabad city and water for industrial use in three districts of the state by lifting about 120 tmc ft of flood water from Krishna river. The entire project will be completed only after obtaining environmental and forest clearances, he added.
On earlier occasion, the bench made it clear that no part of the project with regard to irrigation shall be proceeded without prior environmental clearance from the Centre. Meanwhile, the petitioner filed a miscellaneous application seeking to appoint an independent commission on the issue.
Report on July 19
When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, the government counsel submitted that there was no need of an independent commission since the state authorities are acting transparently in respect to project works.
Not satisfied with the submissions of the government counsel, the bench decided to appoint an independent commission to examine the construction activity and look into alleged irregularities in project works and construction activity in reserve forest area and other violations.
While adjourning the case, the bench asked the commission to submit its report before it on July 19. Officials of the Central Water Commission, Ministry of forest and environment, the petitioner and the respondent authorities will be the members of the commission.