Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh high court on Thursday (August 22) suspended the state Power Generation Corporation's (AP Genco) pre-closure orders to Navayuga Engineering Company for a hydroelectric power station which is part of the Polavaram project.

The court also stayed the reverse tendering process, initiated by the state government, for the Polavaram hydroelectric project and the dam head works.

Also read: BJP douses fire after Jagan Mohan Reddy's electric lamp sparks controversy

Justice DVSS Somayajulu issued interim orders to this effect on a petition filed by Navayuga, challenging the AP Genco's pre-closure order.

On August 1, the Jagan Mohan Reddy government decided to terminate the contract awarded to Navayuga for the execution of the Polavaram dam head works.

On August 14, the AP Genco issued the pre-closure order to Navayuga on the hydroelectric project, citing lack of progress in works.

The state government issued a 'reverse tender' last week, inviting fresh bids for the hydropower station and the Polavaram head works.

Navayuga challenged Genco's order, related only to the hydropower station, contending that as per the contract, it has time till November 2021 to complete the project.

After hearing arguments of the petitioner and the state government, Justice Somayajulu issued interim orders, suspending Genco's pre-closure order.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) dubbed the high court order as a slap on the face of chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Reacting to the order, leader of the opposition N Chandrababu Naidu said that it would have a severe impact on the progress of the Polavaram project as a whole and cause inordinate delay in execution.

"What will the government say to this now? Despite the Centre's warning, the state government is not appreciating reality. We have been cautioning against indiscriminate actions too," the former chief minister told reporters.