Even as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been making unprecedented arrangements for the foundation stone laying for Amaravati, he received a setback on Saturday with National Green Tribunal serving a notice on his government to suspend works pertaining to the function.
National Green Tribunal, which works under the Union Ministry of Environment, took serious view at the Naidu government taking up the works without obtaining environmental clearances.
The tribunal said the government had miserably failed to keep its promise of fulfilling the norms.
The tribunal thus ordered the Government not to go ahead with the leveling works in the area and also not to cut trees till it gets environmental clearances.
The NGT also asked the State Government to immediately submit a report on the likely submergence of the areas in the proposed capital region.
It may be mentioned that an expert committee set up by the Centre had earlier raised issues of acquisition of fertile agricultural land, high water table of the region, vulnerable soil type and the flood-prone nature of the region to suggest that the nature of development planned in this region may not be appropriate for capital building like construction of high-rise structures.
However, Naidu told the Cabinet colleagues that the tribunal notice would not make any impact on the arrangements made for foundation stone laying for Amaravati.
It is ironical that the Union Ministry is raising objections to the event which is being attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said.
