The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the AP government to stop the multi-crore lift irrigation projects of Pattiseema, Purushottampatnam and Chintalapudi with immediate effect. The orders were issued as there are no environmental clearances for these three projects. The NGT issued the orders based on the petitions filed by senior leader Vatti Vasanth Kumar and Srinath Reddy.

The opposition TDP leaders alleged that AP lost the case just because Jagan Circar deliberately didn’t make strong arguments before the NGT. They are arguing that these projects will be used only till the Polavaram lifeline project is completed. But because of the petitions, Andhra can no longer use Pattiseema to divert the Godavari river waters to meet the needs of farmers in Krishna and Godavari deltas.

Now the questions are coming up whether the YCP government would file review petitions or not. Analysts say that the fate of these projects will now depend on the financial support from the Centre. Jagan Circar is giving top priority only to the Navaratnalu cash transfer schemes which are taking a lion’s share of the state’s internal revenue.