CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court (HC) today issued notices to Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Central Water Commission (CWC) asking them to file affidavits indicating the present status of the Pollavaram multi-purpose project.
A division bench of the HC, comprising Acting Chief Justice IM Quddushi and BK Nayak, heard a public interest litigation filed by Bonai MLA Laxman Munda challenging the project, now being carried out by Andhra Pradesh Government.
Munda had filed the PIL in 2006, when HC had directed authorities concerned including AP Government that the project work may continue only after compliance of all statutory requirements.
The High Court had clearly observed that AP Government must ensure that no area under Orissa should face submersion.
Today during the hearing, Advocate General Ashok Mohanty appeared for State Government and said Andhra Pradesh Government had taken clearance of CWC. Challenging it, Orissa Government filed a suit before the Supreme Court on the grounds that clearances given by various authorities are not proper, he submitted.
Counsel for Munda, Bibhu Tripathy had recently filed a petition before the HC alleging that the AP Government is going ahead with the project by giving a complete go by to the orders passed by the Orissa High Court.
If the project is allowed to proceed, he said, eight villages of Malkangiri district and some other areas will be submerged. More than 2000 people would be affected by the project and forced to shift from their native place. Further hearing on the case will be held on November 9, the division bench said.