Scientists of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and environmental protection activists seem to be at logger heads over projects causing pollution.
Though the very purpose of NEERI is to ensure clean environment, officials of the watch-dog institution are with those who “pollute the environment”, the activists charged. NEERI officials have been told to give their expert opinion on two issues in recent times—the Narla Tatarao Thermal Power Station (NTTPS) near Vijayawada and the off-shore Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) floating storage terminal near Kakinada.
Scientific advisor to the National Alliance of People’s Movements K. Babu Rao said farmers with lands around NTTPS had complained to the Lok Ayukta, stating that pollution caused by the plant led to crop loss. The yields from the second crop (pulses) were very poor, they said.
An expert committee, with a NEERI official as chairman, was constituted by the Lok Ayukta to investigate complaints lodged by farmers. The committee, however, dismissed the complaints, citing “lack of evidence”.
There was conflict of interest with NEERI, which did EIAs on commercial lines, Mr. Babu Rao alleged.
“Though the very purpose of NEERI is to ensure clean environment, officials of the watch-dog institution are with those who pollute the environment.”
Environmental activists
