The Andhra Pradesh government was fined ₹100 crore by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The Krishna River Management Board must receive payment of this fine within three months. In its order, the NGT stated that it was “extremely troubling to note that a Government Department can go to this extent to implement an irrigation project by resorting to falsehood, misrepresentation, and cheating the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SEIAA), in blatant violation of environmental laws.”

The Andhra Pradesh government petitioned the supreme court to overturn the NGT’s decision based on this order. The government explained before the Supreme Court that this was a unique instance in which the NGT had revoked the state’s Avulapalli reservoir clearance order.

The NGT discovered that the project’s projected or actual ultimate water storage capacity was 3.5 TMC. Andhra Pradesh knowingly filed for and received an EC approving a 2.5 TMC water storage capacity with a 9700 Ha cultivable command area. According to NGT, this has caused the SEIAA to be misled.

The state administration said in their argument, delivered through attorney Mahfooz Nazki, that “the finding is utterly misconceived. It was never claimed that any structure exceeding the culturable command area of 9700 Ha or any storage capacity over 2.5 TMC was being used for the ABR Project.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the petition on the Avulapalli reservoir clearance order.  On May 24, 2023, The Supreme Court put on hold an order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

What is NGT?

The National Green Tribunal was established on October 18, 2010, in accordance with the National Green Tribunal Act 2010. To efficiently and effectively handle cases involving environmental protection, the conservation of forests, and other natural resources. This includes the enforcement of any environmental legal rights and the provision of relief and compensation for environmental damages to people and property. Also, in the matters that are related to or incidental to these cases. It is an expert body with the knowledge needed to address environmental disputes involving many disciplinary concerns. The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 does not bind the Tribunal; instead, it is natural justice principles that the Tribunal will follow.

Objectives Of The National Green Tribunal (NGT)

The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) main goals include the following:

• Cases involving the preservation and protection of the environment, forests, and other natural resources should be handled effectively and quickly.
• To provide assistance and recompense for any harm done to people or property.
• To manage a variety of multidisciplinary environmental conflicts.

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