NGT seeks Andhra Pradesh reply for clearing land on banks of Krishna river
New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal issued a contempt notice to Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday for failing to comply with its earlier directions of not carrying out clearing of land near the floodplains on the banks of river Krishna for construction of a new state capital without environmental clearances.
A bench, headed by judicial member U D Salvi, also issued a notice to Capital Regional Development Authority (CRDA) and asked them to file the reply in one week.
During the hearing, senior advocate Sanjay Parikh and advocate Shravan Kumar, appearing for the petitioner, said that despite the Tribunal's direction the state was carrying out the work in the flood plains of the river without environment clearances.
The counsel, appearing for the state government, submitted that environment clearances were indeed taken before carrying out the work on the banks of river on October 9.
Parikh then countered the arguments saying the previous hearing of the case was on October 10, then why did they not inform the Tribunal that environmental clearances were taken.
The bench then asked the state government to upload the copy of environmental clearances on its website by tomorrow.
The state government also submitted report regarding demarcation of flood plains and identification of the wetlands. It posted the matter for further hearing on November 19.
On October 10, the Tribunal had directed that Andhra Pradesh government should not to carry out any operation of clearing of land near the floodplains on the banks of river Krishna for construction of a new state capital without obtaining the environmental clearance.
Earlier, Andhra Pradesh government had assured the green panel that it will not take any action which would damage the environment near the floodplains on the banks of river Krishna for construction of a new state capital.
The petitioner had sought an immediate stay on acquisition of floodplains and wetlands between Vijaywada and Guntur City on the banks of Krishna.
The state government has issued a notification identifying the location of the capital between Vijaywada and Guntur cities on the banks of the river and notified an area of about 7,068 sq kms for capital region and 122 sq kms as Andhra Pradesh capital city area.
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