The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a penalty of Rs 120 crore on Andhra Pradesh government for constructing lift irrigation projects on Godavari without environmental clearance.
The NGT had directed the government to pay this fine in next three months. The NGT also directed the government to pay this amount to AP Pollution Control Board.
The objectionable projects are Pattiseema, Purushottapatnam and Chintalapudi lift irrigation projects.
All these three projects were executed by Chandrababu Naidu without duly getting environmental clearances.
Chandrababu Naidu and his TDP leaders have campaigned that Naidu had created a river in the name of Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme.
Though several farmers and environmentalists told Naidu to stop work on Pattiseema and focus on Polavaram Project, he spent his time and resources on this project.
Even this too was on the Polavaram Right Canal 90 per cent of which was completed by late Dr Rajasekhar Reddy.
Same is the case with the Purushothapatnam and Chintalapudi lift irrigation projects. Naidu started the works on these lift schemes without getting environmental clearance from the Central government.
It was because of this, environmentalist Pentapati Pulla Rao and former minister Vatti Vasantha Kumar filed cases in the NGT following which the NGT imposed the fine.
Since Naidu had done this and Naidu had gained international publicity on creation of entirely new river called Pattiseema, will he pay the fine too!
Ironically, the NGT had imposed another Rs 150 crore on the government for unauthorised sand mining in Krishna river near Prakasam Barrage.
This mining was done just behind the house where Chandrababu Naidu stays even now, on the banks of the river.
However, Jagan Mohan Reddy government had provided additional documentation to avoid the fine and save the money to the state exchequer.
Will the Jagan government once again cover up Chandrababu Naidu’s mistakes and save this Rs 120 crore fine too!?
