NGT imposes Rs 900 cr fine on TS government

PNS|Hyderabad

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a huge fine of Rs 900 crore on the Telangana government regarding the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme Project. The NGT directed the Telangana government to pay the fine within three months.

The NGT directed the Telangana government to deposit the money with the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB). The NGT also set up a Committee to supervise the Palamuru-Rangareddy project with Central Government officials.

The Andhra Pradesh government had filed a petition with the NGT alleging that the Telangana government has been engaging in contempt of court by continuing the construction of the Palamuru-Rangareddy project without taking permission from the Department of Environment.

In response to the petition filed by the AP government, the NGT imposed a fine of Rs 300 crore for constructing the project without permission. The NGT also imposed a fine of Rs 528 as environmental compensation in the Palamuru-Rangareddy project. The NGT imposed a fine of Rs 92.8 crore as compensation for the Dindi project.

It may be recalled that the NGT imposed a huge fine on October 3, 2022, on the Telangana government. The NGT has imposed a fine of Rs 3,800 crore for not implementing the guidelines regarding maintenance of wastage and for not implementing its verdicts. The NGT directed the Telangana government to deposit the amount in a special account within two months.