On July 12, 2006, the Supreme Court-appointed central empowered committee (CEC) said it would visit the Polavaram Multi-Purpose Dam Project in Andhra Pradesh by the end of July before it submits its report to the court.
The CEC had ordered the state to stop construction at the site since the project would submerge the Papikonda National Park and Coringa mangrove forest in Andhra. The project was cleared by the ministry of environment and forests and recently also by the National Board for Wildlife but has yet to get clearance from the forest department. In the CEC meet, Orissa and Chhattisgarh protested against the project, which was to submerge 178 hectares (ha) of forest land in Orissa and 3,223 ha of forest land in Chhattisgarh. Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik wanted environmental clearance to be scrapped because public hearings were not held in his state.
CEC deals with forest-related issues. It is concerning itself with this issue all the more because displaced tribals will be resettled on forest land.
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