Polavaram project: NGT asks AP to address concerns of upstream states

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal today ordered the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) and the Andhra Pradesh government to hold a meeting with Odisha, Telangana and Chhattisgarh States to address their apprehensions on the Polavaram Dam project over Godavari river.

In order to clarify the apprehensions about the project and address key issues, the Central Water Commission (CWC) and Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal along with the PPA and Water Resource Department, Andhra Pradesh have been asked to jointly convene a meeting with the upstream states within two months.

During the meeting the upstream States will put forth the anticipated impacts due to Polavaram project and the same may be examined by PPA and WRD, Andhra Pradesh to devise appropriate mitigative measures to safeguard the dam and as well as interests of the upstream states, the order added.

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

Odisha has been opposing the ongoing construction of the Polavaram Dam by Andhra Pradesh citing that the project will cause permanent injury to the interest of the State and its people.