SC directs AP to pay penalty for flouting green norms

Vijayawada: The Supreme Court has directed the Andhra Pradesh government to pay Rs 2.48 crore for Purushottpatnam and Rs 1.90 crore for Pattiseema irrigation projects for violation of environmental norms during the execution of these projects as per the recommendations of the joint committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and J.K. Maheswari held a hearing on Monday in New Delhi and directed the AP government to implement the recommendations of the joint committee constituted by the NGT pertaining to violation of green laws during execution of the irrigation projects.

The AP government challenged the NGT direction to pay Rs 250 crore for violation of green norms during execution of Polavaram irrigation project.

The court observed that they would hear the case further to find out whether the NGT was having the authority to impose such a huge amount of penalty for violation of green norms pertaining to execution of Polavaram project.

The court served notices to the respondents, asking them to file their replies and posted the next hearing in February, 2023.

The petitioners include Vatti Vasantha Kumar, Pentapati Pulla Rao, Madicherla Satyanarayana and Jammula Chowdaraiah.