NGT Warns Ordering Arrest Of Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary

A hearing was held in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) today on the Rayalaseema lift irrigation scheme. Garimalla Srinivas, a resident of Telangana, has filed a petition alleging that the AP government has ignored the orders of NGT and is going forward with the works of the project.

NGT made sensational remarks during the hearing of this petition. The tribunal warned that the Chief Secretary would be sent to jail if he continued to defy the verdict. The AP government has told the NGT that it had stopped work already and has applied for environmental clearances.

NGT, however, expressed doubts over the AP government’s claims. NGT has directed the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) and the environment departments to report on the latest status of the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme. It has warned of dire consequences if the government’s claims are proved wrong.

The next hearing of the issue is posted on July 12th.