Telangana should pay Rs 920 crores for violating environmental norms: NGT

Hyderabad: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), penalised Telangana with a fine of Rs 920.85 crore for violating environmental rules while constructing the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) and the Dindi Lift Irrigation Project.
The NGT on Thursday directed Telangana to receive a permit from the Apex Council, before proceeding with the construction of its irrigation projects.
“A state being a model citizen has disobeyed the procedure and attempted to circumvent the mandatory provisions in spite of a specific finding by the NGT in appeal No. 20 of 2018”, the NGT said.
Also Read Telangana: Minority welfare budget crunch hits Shaadi Mubarak, scholarships NGT further directed the state government to deposit a penalty amount with Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) to utilize the same for remedial activities by clubbing two petitions filed by Andhra Pradesh farmers separately on the projects.
The bench holding Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana delivered his judgment stating that “the allegations in both the original applications are identical in nature”.
The NGT further mandated the Telangana government to obtain Environmental Clearance (EC), namely, screening, scoping, public consultation, and appraisal before proceeding with PRILS.