Polavaram Project: NGT Asks Andhra to Take Steps On Concerns Of Three States

New Delhi: In a partial relief to Odisha, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Saturday directed the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) and the Andhra Pradesh government to hold a meeting with the upstream states to address their apprehensions on the Polavaram Dam project over Godavari river.

The NGT has asked the Central Water Commission (CWC), Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal (WRDT), PPA and Water Resource department of Andhra Pradesh to convene a joint meeting with Odisha, Telangana and Chhattisgarh to clarify their apprehensions about the project within two months.

The Tribunal further ordered that PPA and WRDT, Andhra Pradesh will examine the impacts of the project to be expressed by the states during the meeting and devise the measures to safeguard the dam and interests of the upstream states.

Disposing the application, the NGT said a copy of order will be sent to Ministry of Jal Shakti, the CPCB, Telangana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, CWC and the Polavaram Project Authority for compliance.

Odisha has been opposing the ongoing the construction of the dam in Andhra Pradesh on the ground that it will seriously affect the crop land and the farmers in the state.