Bhubaneswar, Oct 15: Alleging Centre’s support towards Andhra Pradesh government in the completion of the most controversial Polavaram Project, an affidavit has been lodged against the Centre by the State’s Forest and Environment department before the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Even after stop work order was issued to the Andhra Pradesh government by the Government of India, the Government has given extension for the project around three to four times and indirectly has helped Andhra Pradesh for the projects’ completion.
Public hearing can be done after the Supreme Court order, the Forest and Environment Secretary, Suresh Mohapatra informed.
The hearing of the matter registered by Andhra Pradesh based non-governmental organization will be done on October 16 or 17.
It may be noted that for the Polavaram project which has been accredited as national project, the Central government has promised to fund the project.
In 2014-15, Rs 250 crore was sanctioned by the Centre and in 2015-16, the Centre sanctioned Rs 600 crore. For the current year 2016-17, the Centre has assured to give Rs 3,305 crore for the project.
Reacting upon this, BJD spokesperson, Prashant Nanda said that, the party which is in power at the Centre, either UPA or be it NDA, have helped for Polavaram Project to get completed.
On the other hand, BJP General Secretary, Prithviraj Harichandan commented that the State government has been trying to cover its failure and the State still has time to come forward from the deep sleep and take the matter seriously.
