Orissa to move SC against centre’s nod for irrigation project

In a bid to get even with the ministry of environment and forests for anulling the clearance tp Vedanta's bauxite mining project in the Niyamgiri hills, the Orissa government on Monday said it will move the Supreme Court challenging the Centre's approval of forest clearance to Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh without taking its view.

The ministry of environment and forests had earlier granted approval to the Rs10,000-crore project on the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh.

This will be the second time the Orissa government will move the apex court, after it had challenged the MoEF decision granting interim approval for the project in 2008.

''We have decided to file a petition in the Supreme Court within two days for a stay on the final clearance for the project. The MoEF has given its final approval even though a case is pending in the apex court,'' water resources secretary Suresh Mohapatra said.

Besides seeking the approval to be kept in abeyance, the ministry would be asked to clarify how it approved the revised designs of Polavaram project without taking views of Orissa government, Mohapatra said.

The project is likely to submerge a large number villages in Orissa's Malkangiri district. At least 25 tribal villages and a large chunk of forest would be inundated there, he said.