The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has extended time till September 18 for the Union Ministry of Environment to file counter to the petition of Pandalaneni Srimannarayana against the development of a new capital for Andhra Pradesh allegedly in the flood and earthquake prone area and without getting proper environment clearances.
The NGT in response to Mr. Srimannarayana’s petition asked the Ministry of Environment and the Andhra Pradesh government to respond giving it time up to August 28.
No clearance needed
The Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) filed a counter on behalf of the State government a couple of days ago denying that the land earmarked was earthquake or flood prone and stated that the project which was still in the preliminary stages did not require environmental clearance.
At the hearing at New Delhi on Friday the NGT gave time till September 18 to file its counter. Mr Srimannarayana talking to The Hindu said his legal counsel did not oppose the granting of additional time, because the response of the Union government was important to the case.
