NGT raises doubts about Amaravati

Hyderabad: The NGT, which has been hearing a petition against construction of AP’s new capital Amaravati in a flood-prone area, expressed doubts over the AP government’s plans to elevate the 10,000-acre capital city to protect it from the Krishna river and the Kondaveeti Vaagu.

The NGT wondered whether it would be viable to elevate the capital city over such a large extent. The NGT heard two petitions, filed by retired IAS officer E.A.S. Sharma and Mr Bolishetty Satyanarayana. Senior advocate Sanjay Parekh, who argued for the petitioners, told the NGT that Kondaveeti Vaagu floods about 13,500 acres.

The three-member NGT bench headed by Justice Swatantra Ku-mar asked Mr Parekh whether the AP government had plans to elevate the land. Mr Parekh said the environment impact assessment stated that it would be elevated.