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3. The applicant/appellants have now invoked the jurisdiction of this Tribunal under Section 14(1) of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 to draw its attention to the Plan of State of Andhra Pradesh to build a Green Field New Capital namely; Amravati as it poses a serious threat to the environment and a large population. Therefore, the applicant has sought directions against State of Andhra Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority not to undertake any developmental activities, including urbanization or raising infrastructure on river flood plain, wet land and fertile agricultural lands which are part of the river catchment area. Further, directions have been sought against the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF& CC) to constitute an Expert Committee consisting of independent experts from reputed institutions holding expertise on river ecology and hydrology, to undertake a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment due to large scale urbanization as well as infrastructure development in the region and also assess the social and livelihood impact of the said activities on people including the farmers and fishing communities. It has also been requested that all the respondents be directed to delineate hundred years flood line on both the banks of river Krishna before undertaking any development in the region.

79. The fact that the word flood plain used in EIA Report is with reference to geomorphological unit and not with reference to one in hundred (1 in 100) year flood line has been further clarified by Dr. Dasika Durga Prasada Rao who served as the Director of the Indian Space Research Organisation/ National Remote Sensing Centre. Hydrogeomorphologic mapping for the entire country under the Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Technology Mission was taken up under his supervision. Dr.Rao has clarified, in the e mails dated 19th of July 2016 and 1st August 2016 to the answering respondent which has been filed along with the written submissions Note 2 annexure R-8, that the area delineated as flood plain in the map (Figure 5-15 of the EIA Report) is genetically referred to as flood plain in geomorphological terms and that is not an active flood plain. This substantiates the finding of the expert committee which undertook the re-demarcation of one in hundred years flood line, pursuant to the directions of the Tribunal.