The National Green Tribunal has issued notices to the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Andhra Pradesh government and the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) for undertaking development works for the new capital city on the Krishna River bank without conducting appropriate environmental impact assessment.
The lawyers for the appellant have requested the Tribunal to direct the Union Environment and Forests Ministry to constitute an expert committee to analyse the environmental and social impact for developing the new capital city.
The lawyers for the appellant have requested the Tribunal to direct the AP government to examine the feasibility of large-scale urbanisation and infrastructure development on the areas identified for formation of the capital city and to propose alternatives which could lead to minimum devastation of natural resources.
The intervention follows concerns regarding large-scale development activities planned for the new capital over one lakh hectares of land acquired by the A.P. government.
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 it.
The NGT’s order came after two individuals Pandalaneni Srimannarayana from Vijayawada and Anthati Kamalakar from Nellore moved the Tribunal after the Supreme Court heard their petition on March 20 and asked them to withdraw the petition and approach an appropriate agency to raise the matter.
The appellants were concerned that the development of the new capital in the present manner may adversely impact the livelihood of residents and environment of the region overall.
Tribunal directs Centre to constitute expert panel to study environmental and social impact for developing the new capital city.