Andhra Pradesh government violating National Green Tribunal norms, MoEF told
17 Oct 2015 12:39 PM IST
Recommendations were not in conformity with the norm laid down by the National Green Tribunal
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Visakhapatnam: Former union government power secretary, E.A.S. Sarma on Friday wrote to MoEF, asking it to stay the recommendations given by AP State Expert Appraisal Committee and State Level Environment Impact Appraisal Authority on the construction of its new capital.
He said that the recommendations were not in conformity with the norm laid down by the National Green Tribunal. Mr Sarma pointed out in an order on Sept. 20, 2011 in Appeal No. 7 of 2011 (T), NGT had directed the authorities concerned to include a cumulative impact appraisal as a part of environment impact appraisal of projects, as implied in the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986.
“Neither the SEAC nor the SEIAA in Andhra Pradesh has cared to keep this norm in view while routinely recommending/issuing statutory environment clearance for projects. Under extreme pressure from the state’s political executive, without considering the interim order dated 10-10-2015 issued by the NGT in Original Application No. 171/2015 (M.A. No. 510/2015) on the capital city project, both SEAC and SEIAA seem to have “issued” a letter amounting to “environment clearance” for the project, apparently to facilitate the foundation stone being laid by the Prime Minister at the invitation of the Chief Minister of the state,” he wrote.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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