Why worry over NGT panel, Telangana asked

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday asked the TS government why it was worried about constitution of an independent commission by the National Green Tribunal at Chennai to ascertain the ongoing works Ranga Reddy-Palamuru lift irrigation scheme were for the purpose of drinking water or for irrigation.

The first phase of the project passes through Amrabad-Srisailam-Nagarjunasagar Tiger Reserve.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice T. Rajani was dealing with an appeal by the state government challenging the decision of the Tribunal in constituting the independent commission.

J. Ramachandra Rao, additional advocate-general of the state, contended that the tribunal cannot pass an order constituting the commission in the absence of the expert member on its bench.

Reacting to the submission, the HC bench pointed out that it was a fact-finding committee and wondered why the authorities were worried about the order of the tribunal.

Mr Rao replied that they were objecting only to the point of legality in constitution of the commission.

At one stage the bench said that it will pass orders by directing the commission to submit its report to the High Court instead of to the tribunal.

When Mr Rao sought to grant time to get instructions in this regard from the government, the bench adjourned the case to Thursday.

It may be recalled that the NGT at Chennai had on May 30 passed the order constituting an independent commission while dealing with an application by one B. Harshvardhan Reddy, challenging the government going ahead with first phase of the project without forest or environmental clearances and clearing about 279 hectares of forest.

The NGT bench constituted an independent commission headed by professor Yusuf, retired NGT expert member, and other relevant members, including the petitioner and respondents.