You Will be Sent to Jail: NGT warns AP CS

Hyderabad: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), taking serious note of the recalcitrant attitude of the Andhra Pradesh government, on Friday warned that the Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary would be sent to jail if the State is found indulging in violation of its order pertaining to Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS).

Responding to a contempt petition filed by Telangana Sarpanches Association leader G Srinivas, the NGT directed the AP government not to take up the construction without getting any environmental clearance. The Association had brought to the notice of NGT the construction work going on at RLIS.

The petitioner also brought to the notice of NGT that the AP government was not cooperating with the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) to conduct inspection of RLIS as per NGT’s directions.

Though the NGT had ordered that environmental clearance was mandatory, the AP government continued to write letters to the Ministry of Environment stating there was no need for permission for RLIS. The petitioner also said that the AP government had taken up construction work despite the situation arising out of the second wave of Covid-19, and in violation of NGT orders. A request was made to NGT to ensure that its order is implemented.

The advocate who argued on behalf of AP said the construction work of RLIS was not taken up and sought two weeks time to file a counter petition.

The advocate informed NGT that the Telangana government was also taking up several projects without any permission. The NGT ordered the KRMB to submit a report explaining the latest situation at RLIS.

The Telangana petitioner’s advocate Shravan Kumar told Telangana Today that the NGT said: “If we find any violation of our orders, then we will send the AP Chief Secretary to jail.” the matter was posted to Juy 12 for further hearing.

Meanwhile, several Ministers from Telangana came out with their guns blazing against the YSRCP government in the neighbouring State.

Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy, Energy Minister G Jagdish Reddy and Tourism Minister V Srinivas Goud, speaking in different places but essentially maintaining the same tone, not only slammed the AP government for ignoring NGT and KRMB orders but also sought the Central government’s intervention to rein in the YSRCP government. “The Centre can’t remain a silent spectator when the AP government is resorting to water theft. It has to intervene to resolve the inter-State dispute,” Niranjan Reddy said, addressing a gathering after inaugurating a Rythu Vedika at Revalli in Wanaparthy district on Friday.

He said Telangana State was formed with the purpose of utilising people’s rightful share in river water for the latter’s needs. “Telangana is a seperate State and the Andhra Pradesh rulers cannot act as per their whims and wishes. We are ready to maintain cordial relations, but will not tolerate their high-handedness especially against the interests of people of Telangana,” he asserted.

The Minister said no permanent allocation of Krishna River water has been made so far and hence, the actions of AP government were no less than water theft. He lashed out at the Opposition parties for blaming the Telangana government over the illegal projects and pointed out that it was Congress leaders who did not utter a word when the Andhra rulers took away the just share of Telangana in river waters to meet the needs of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.

Centre to send KRMB team to AP

Hyderabad: The Centre will deploy a committee of Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) to investigate the complaints raised by the Telangana government against the Andhra Pradesh government over taking up illegal construction of projects including the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation scheme and Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme right canal. Sources said Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had a telephonic conversation with Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao in this regard on Friday. He reportedly assured that necessary action would be taken if the AP government was found constructing the projects without valid permissions. The Chief Minister pointed out that the AP government took up illegal construction of RLIS and other projects without obtaining any permissions in violation of orders issued by the NGT.

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