The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : YSR not averse to fresh hearing on Pulichintala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 03, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

YSR not averse to fresh hearing on Pulichintala

By Our Staff Reporter

BAPATLA (GUNTUR DIST.), JAN. 2. The State Government will impress upon the Centre to clear the Pulichintala Project with the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for which a public hearing was conducted recently and if not acceptable it will go in for a fresh EIA, the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, said on Sunday.

The EIA was seven years old and if as per norms a fresh report was required, the Government would hold a public hearing along with the new assessment, he told reporters.

The Alamatti Dam, which was completed two years ago, did not have an environmental approval like many other projects in the country, he pointed out.

Blaming the previous government for the delay in obtaining clearance, he said it had even called for tenders just before the elections. A systematic approach was essential with a perfect roadmap for implementation of any such project, he said.

The tail pond would be constructed to recycle the water used during the peak-hour power generation and the size of the pond would be decided on the requirement, he said and added that it did not have any bearing or connection with the implementation of the Pulichintala Multi-Purpose Project.

Disaster management

A comprehensive plan was being implemented to provide full security to the fishing community on the coastline so that they are not affected in the event of calamities like the recent tsunami, Dr. Reddy said. Under the plan, 40,000 permanent houses would be constructed and proper road links created along the coast, he added.

There were certain norms for paying compensation for all victims and the Government could not overlook them, he said when asked about the fate of the affected families.

Quota for minorities

A report had been sought from the Backward Classes Commission with regard to reservation for minorities as per the directive of the High Court. The Commission was constituted ahead of the stipulated timeframe and the panel was asked to submit its report as early as possible, he said.

The Minister for Finance, K. Rosaiah, the Minister for Cooperation, Kanna Lakshmi Narayana, along with the Bapatla MLA, Gade Venkata Reddy, were present.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh