BHUBANESWAR: The ruling BJD on Saturday announced that it will continue the fight against the construction of Polavaram dam despite the rejection of State Government’s demand by Andhra Pradesh (AP) to stop work on the multipurpose project forthwith till Odisha’s concerns were addressed.
Describing the AP Government’s response as unfortunate and unacceptable, BJD spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Deb said it has proved that the Andhra Pradesh does not have any sympathy for the people of Odisha. Deb, however, said the Odisha Government is yet to receive any communication from Andhra Pradesh in this regard.
Congress and BJP, however, criticised the State Government for the inept handling of the issue. Congress Chief Whip in the Assembly Tara Prasad Bahinipati alleged that AP has gained the upper hand because of the Odisha Government’s failure to raise the issue in the proper manner. BJP leader Bhrugu Buxipatra also criticised the State Government over the issue.
Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao had said at Amaravati that AP Government has all the required clearances for the multi-purpose irrigation project which has been accorded national project status by the Centre. “We have all the clearances and we will go ahead with the construction,” he said.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had written a letter to his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Chandrababu Naidu on October 10 requesting that the construction work of Polavaram be stopped immediately till Odisha’s concerns were addressed.Naveen said construction of Polavaram was going on at a rapid pace without correctly assessing the design, flood and backwater extent in Malkangiri district of the State. He also stated that the construction was in violation of Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award.