Odisha CM requests PM to stop Polavaram project work

Bhubaneswar, Nov 21 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop construction of Polavaram irrigation project until all the pending issues are resolved.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister also requested to give directions to the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry to cancel the July order for Polavaram project.

The Ministry has kept the "stop work order" in abeyance from July 3, 2018 for a year citing the assurances given by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu that the reservoir of the Polavaram project will not be impounded without the permission of the Ministry.

He also assured that changes in the design parameters will be taken care of based on the results of public hearing.

The Ministry has kept the "stop work order" in abeyance from time to time without informing Odisha, said Patnaik.

"In this context, it is not understood how the impounding of reservoir will not take place once the project is completed. Further, it is to mention that it will not be possible to change the design and operating parameters of Polavaram project after the completion of the project," he added.

Patnaik said the Polavaram project can be reformulated as per Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) award without causing large-scale submergence in Odisha, Telangana and Chhattisgarh.

"If the project is allowed to be completed before the resolution of all the pending issues, it will cause permanent injury to the interest of the State of Odisha and its people," said the Chief Minister.