Environment clearance for Polavaram project cancelled

Bhubaneswar, Dec 24 (UNI) The National Environment Appellate Authority today cancelled the environmental clearance given by the Union Ministry of Enviroment and forests for the Polavaram irrigation project on Godavari the river in Andhra Pradesh.

The Orissa Government had been opposing the project right from the beginning saying that a major portion of Malkangiri district was likely to be submerged due to the coming up of the proposed project by Andhra Pradesh.

Opposing the project, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had drawn the attention of Prime Minister Monmohan Singh and the National Environment Appellate Authority. The government had also filed a case in the Supreme Court against the project.

The tribunal also expressed it displeasure for not conducting public hearing in the affected areas of Orissa and Chhatisgarh due to the project.

UNI