MoEF pulls up AP govt on Polavaram project

After persistent efforts of the Orissa government which had questioned the grant of environmental nod for the controversial Polavaram multipurpose project in Andhra Pradesh without conducting public hearings, the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has finally woken up on the issue.

The MoEF has asked the Andhra Pradesh government to specify the reasons for not holding public hearings for the project in Orissa and Chattisgarh even after one and a half years of issue of the letter of the ministry dated March 9 last year wherein the project proponent was requested to undertake public hearings as per the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification of 2006.

A reminder in this connection was also issued by the MoEF on June 24, 2009.

Meanwhile, the Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has reiterated his demand for holding public hearings for the project.

“Public hearings for the Polavaram project must be done. We have concerns of submergence of tribal villages because of the implementation of the project and these concerns need to be addressed by the Centre”, he told reporters.

The MoEF in its letter to Sahilendra Kumar Joshi, principal secretary (projects), irrigation department, Andhra Pradesh government, has asked to respond within 7-10 days to furnish the reasons for not holding public hearings and information on construction status of the dam and other related works.

The ministry has also questioned as to why a showcause notice should bot be issued formally under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act as work on the project is continuing without getting the environment clearance amended for additional components like construction of embankments, drainage sluices and pumping arrangements.

The project involved construction of embankments on rivers Saberi and Sileru to avoid land submergence in Orissa and Chhattisgarh.

The Orissa government had approached the Supreme Court of India on September 4, opposing the Centre's decision to give environmental clearance for the project.