PIL fears damage to Cotton’s dam

A public interest petition was filed in the AP High Court on Friday against the construction of a mini hydel power project on the branch anicut of the Godavari at Dummugudem village in Khammam district.

Petitioner R Nageswara Rao, president of the Save Earth Society, requested the court to direct SLS Power Corporation, Bengaluru, not to damage the 150-year old Sir Arthur Cotton anicut by constructing a 21 MW mini hydel power project.

Rao wanted the court to prod the authorities to restraining the corporation from causing damage to the anicut.

He said the construction would cause irreparable loss and damage to farmers in the surrounding villages.

A representation against the project was submitted to the concerned authorities on June 19 this year, but no action has been taken till date, he added.