Green Tribunal gives fresh directions to AP on land clearance near Krishna River

Hyderabad, Oct 14: In a significant development, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is believed to have issued directions to the Andhra Pradesh government ordering it not to take up any land clearing operation near the flood plains on the banks of river Krishna. The NGT is believed to have received evidence that AP has taken up construction activity of the new state capital on the banks of river Krishna without obtaining clearances from environmental agencies. The NGT bench, headed by Justice U D Salvi, passed these direction under the provisions of Environment Clearance Regulation 2006. The bench said as per the regulation, it is an obligation upon AP not to take up any clearing operation within the project area before receiving any environmental clearance. The NGT bench gave the direction after advocate Sravan Kumar, appearing for petitioners Pandalaneni Srimannarayan and others, submitted photographs showing bulldozers engaged in ground clearance.