Vatti Vasanth Kumar, Thrinath Reddy challenge AP river linking projects plan

New Delhi: Former minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar and Water Users Association leader K Trinath Reddy challenged inter-linking of rivers proposed by Andhra Pradesh before National Green Tribunal (NGT). They raised various environmental violations committed by AP in their petition.

Initially, NGT Principal Bench did not accept the petition stating activity was taking place under Chennai jurisdiction. But after mentioning before NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, NGT received the petition of Vatti Vasanth.

Counsel appearing for Vatti Vasanth informed the four-member bench headed by Justice Goel that registry was declining to receive the petition though the affected parties comes under four zones of NGT.

Justice Goel stated that if registry passes order rejecting the petition, it can be challenged before them. After the bench observation, NGT registry received Vatti Vasanth’s petition. It is under scrutiny.

Meanwhile, petitioners referred to Pattiseema, Purushottapatnam, Chithalapudi lift irrigation schemes and Godavari-Penna river links and said those do not have mandatory clearances from Central Water Commission, ministry of environment and forests.

These projects were causing severe loss to 10 lakh Godavati Delta farmers and also causing environmental issues, they contended.