The Andhra Pradesh High Court Thursday set aside a government order, allotting land to a thermal power project in Srikakulam district. Dealing with a petition filed by some environmentalists challenging the land allotment, the court set aside the order issued in 2008.

Under the order issued Sep 15, 2008, the state government had allotted 972 acres of land to Nagarjuna Construction Company, which proposed to develop a 2,640 MW plant at Sompeta at a cost of Rs.12,000 crore.

Local communities and the environmental groups have been opposing the project on the ground that it is coming up on a wetland. They argued that the project not only threatens the ecology but also endangers the livelihood of fishermen and farmers.

Published Date : Friday, 24/6/2011 12:45 PM IST