Hyderabad: The National Green Tribunal at Chennai has constituted an independent commission to ascertain whether the ongoing Ranga Reddy-Palamuru lift irrigation scheme works the first phase of which passes through Amrabad- Srisailam- Nagarjunasagar Tiger Reserve, is for drinking water or for irrigation.
The NGT bench, headed by Justice Nambiar was dealing with a petition by one B. Harshvardhan Reddy, challenging the action of the Telangana state government in going ahead with the first phase by clearing about 279 hectares of forest without obtaining forest or environmental clearances.
The Telangana state government submitted that there was no need of an independent commission as its action was transparent and it going ahead with the project in accordance with rules.
The bench said that it needed the assistance of the independent commission to come to an informed conclusion in view of the allegations of the petitioner that laws and norms were being flouted by the government.
The bench constituted an independent commission headed by professor Yusuf, retired NGT member as chairman and other members, including the petitioner and respondents.
