THE environment ministry has sought an explanation from the Andhra Pradesh government for beginning work on the on the Polavaram irrigation project without complete environmental clearance. The ministry has asked Andhra why a public hearing on the project has not been held despite repeated reminders stretching over a year-and-a-half. The notice asks the state government to explain why a formal show-cause should not be issued. The Polavaram irrigation project was given environmental clearance in October 2005. The project was subsequently referred to the ministry by the Central Water Commission in January, 2009, before it was taken up for consideration by the technical committee of the commission. At that time, the proposal included construction of bunds and embankments on River Saberi and River Sileru to avoid submergence in Orissa and Chhattisgarh. The embankments were not part of the proposal cleared by the appraisal committee of the environment ministry. As a result, the expert appraisal committee took up the amended proposal for consideration in February, 2009. The expert appraisal committee recommended that the Andhra Pradesh irrigation department undertake a public hearing in Chhattisgarh and Orissa. This was conveyed to the Andhra government in March 2009. However, the state government is yet to hold a public hearing in either state despite repeated reminders. The ministry has said that