Supreme Court: Stayed NGT’s 100 Crore Penalty On Andhra Pradesh, Ordered To Deposit 25 Crore; Avulapalli Reservoir

The Supreme Court in the case State of Andhra Pradesh v. Gutha Gunasekhar & ors observed and has stayed the Rs.100 Crore penalty which is being imposed by the National Green Tribunal, NGT on the water resource department of Andhra Pradesh for obtaining the Environmental Clearance for the construction of Avulapalli reservoir in the Chittoor district and the same being in violation of the environmental norms.

The court in the case granted stay to the State for depositing an amount of Rs. 25 Crore with the authorities which being within the period of eight weeks. The bench comprising of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice M.M. Sundresh in the case observed and has issued the notice to the respondent, wherein the court will put a stay of the direction given in the impugned judgment with regard to penalty or compensation, with regards to the subject to the appellants wherein depositing an amount of Rs.25,00,00,000/- (the Rupees twenty-five crore only) with the authorities which being within a period of eight weeks.

The court in the case observed and has passed the interim order while hearing an appeal against the order of NGT for quashing the Environmental Clearance granted to Avulapalli Reservoir in Andhra Pradesh by the SEIAA and has imposed Rs. 100 Crore penalty on the State’s Water Resource Department.
Accordingly, the court stated that the notice is being returnable in the month of October, 2023.