Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who has been under the impression that he can get anything from the Delhi bosses using his clout, received a first setback on Monday.
The Centre paused his pet project – Polavaram-Banakacharla link project, aimed at diverting Godavari river waters to Penna Basin via Krishna, by spening Rs 81,900 crore.
The Union Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on environmental matters has made it clear that environmental clearance cannot be granted to the Polavaram–Banakaracharla project.
The committee stated that numerous objections have been raised against the project, and before any permissions are granted, it is essential to examine the verdict of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT).
The committee emphasized that it is imperative to consult the Central Water Commission (CWC) before proceeding with environmental approvals.
The EAC had examined the Andhra Pradesh government’s report, which claimed that the Polavaram-Banakaracharla project was being undertaken without any complications.
However, the committee found that the construction appears to be in violation of the 1983 verdict issued by the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal.
It concluded that only after conducting a central-level study on water storage issues, obtaining all necessary inter-state permissions, and conducting a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), can full-scale clearances be considered for the project.
