NGT gives time to AP to present case on Polavaram

New Delhi: The state of Andhra Pradesh today appeared before the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) and sought time to respond to the petition filed by Odisha and Chhattisgarh on the Polavaram.

"The tribunal has granted the required time to the State of Andhra Pradesh,” said senior advocate Atulya Jha.

According to sources, the next hearing on the case is scheduled for May 10.

In the current round of hearing, Odisha and Chhattisgarh presented their case citing a 2011 letter from the then Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh which clearly states that no environment clearance has been granted to the project.

Notably, both Odisha and Chhattisgarh are objecting to the project. But that has not stopped the Andhra Pradesh government from going ahead with work on the project, which has been accorded the status of a national project.