CM to reply to Environ Ministry's letter in 10 days, Ponnala ignorant

Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Tuesday stated a reply would be submitted within ten days to the Ministry of Environment and Forests over its letter seeking why a show cause notice should not be issued against the state government for not holding public hearings as directed in March 2009 over the Rs 9,000 crore Polavaram Irrigation project.

Talking to media persons in New Delhi, Mr Rosaiah stated that the state government would reply to letter within 10 days after going through the contents carefully.

Meanwhile, Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah feigned ignorance about the letter and said he had learnt about it only through the media. Mr Lakshmaiah denied that his Ministry has received any such letter.

Union Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh had written to the state government asking why public hearings has not been held in the neighbouring States of Orissa and Chhattisgarh where submergence could take place from the Polavaram Irrigation Project.   

The Orissa government had alleged the project has failed to obtain an environmental clearance for embankments, drainage sluices, pumps and other components added after the original clearance was granted. These additions are mostly intended to prevent the submergence in the neighbouring States.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also asked why a formal show-cause should not be issued against the project for the lack of a clearance for the additional components.

Meanwhile, Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah feigned ignorance about the letter and said he had learnt about it only through the media. Mr Lakshmaiah denied that his Ministry has received any such letter.