Opposing the multi-purpose Polavaram project in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday said he would raise the issue at the National Water Resources Council (NWRC) meeting scheduled to be held in Delhi on October 30.
“We will take up Polavaram issue at the meeting to be convened by the Prime Minister,” Naveen told mediapersons before leaving on a six-day visit to New Delhi.
Besides the Prime Minister, the meeting would be attended by the Union Water Resources Minister, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister and senior officials.
The State Government had been opposing the proposed Polavaram project for a long time.
Besides writing several letters to the Prime Minister, the Government had filed two cases in the Supreme Court seeking a halt to the construction work.
Odisha claimed that vast areas in Malkangiri district would be submerged with operation of the proposed project over the Godavari river. The Government had also alleged that from the very beginning its views were not taken into consideration before Andhra Pradesh government began work on the project. It further alleged that the project developers did not conduct public hearing violating the stipulated norms. The Government had also rejected Andhra Pradesh’s offer for constructing a protection wall in the river on Odisha side.
Meanwhile, the Government has asked Andhra Pradesh to provide detailed data on design and possible impact of the project on tribals of Malkangiri.