Polavaram: NGT orders CIFRI director to inspect site near Godavari river

The National Green Tribunal has ordered the director of Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) to conduct an inspection near Polavaram Dam where a diaphragm wall was being built to assess its impact on the ecology of the area.

A bench of justice Raghuvendra S Rathore and expert member Satyawan Singh Garbyal directed the official to submit a report within two weeks.

The green panel also directed the parties which have not filed their response to complete the exercise within two weeks.

"Service on the respondent is complete. The counsel for the respective respondents pray for time to file reply, which may be done within two weeks," the bench said and posted the matter for next hearing on August 24.

Advocate Pragya Singh, appearing for the petitioner, claimed the environmental flow of the river was being obstructed due to construction of a diaphragm wall.

She claimed the construction of such a wall has a "devastating effect" on marine wildlife in the river and livelihood of 8,000 fishermen in and around the Polavaram area.

"The water is getting dried up and thousands of fishermen are stranded due to loss of livelihood. Not just that, the ecology is getting disturbed as the aquatic life is suffering. All these are in clear abrogation of environmental clearance dated October 25, 2005. The fishermen adopt traditional methods for fishing and there boats are lying idle and they are devoid of any work," the lawyer claimed.

The tribunal had earlier issued notices to the Polavaram Project Authority, Union Environment Ministry, Inter Ministerial Monitoring Committee, Central Inland Fisheries Institute, Andhra Pradesh, District Collector of West Godavari and others while seeking their replies before July 31.

The tribunal had recently asked all states to maintain a minimum environmental flow of 15 to 20 per cent of the average lean season course in their rivers.

E-flow defines the quantity, timing and quality of water flow required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems, besides human livelihood.

The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Andhra Pradesh resident Pothabathula Nageswara Rao seeking maintenance of minimum environment flow of Godavari river at Polavaram dam site and directions to allow fishermen to continue fishing activity.

The plea has also accused the project proponent of violating conditions enumerated in the environmental clearance and demanded action against it.

The dam construction at Polavaram involves building of a 1.5 metre thick concrete diaphragm wall up to depths from 40 to 120 metre below the river bed under the earth. The purpose of a diaphragm wall is to secure the river bed stability for withstanding water pressure across the dam.

Polavaram, which the Andhra Pradesh government terms as the "lifeline of the state", has been declared as a national project under the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.

"The central government shall execute the project and obtain all requisite clearances, including forest, environmental and rehabilitation and resettlement. The Union should take under its control the regulation and development of Polavaram," the Act says.

Accordingly, the Centre constituted the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) for the purpose. The state government has been going ahead with its execution for the last four years.