Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept, 13: Upping the ante against the Centre over Polavaram project, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will hold a massive protest in front of Raj Bhawan Wednesday.
According to BJD spokesperson Suryanarayan Patro, over 5,000 activists including MPs, MLAs and senior leaders will join the mass protest in front of the Governor’s house opposing Centre’s move to fully fund the controversial project at a time when the Supreme Court is seized of the matter.
The ruling party will also submit a memorandum to Governor SC Jamir, addressed to President Pranab Mukherjee, seeking his immediate intervention in the matter.
After Wednesday’s protest, the party will also hold rallies and protest marches in seven Southern Orissa districts – Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur and Ganjam September 20.
Party workers and leaders will gherao district collectorates of these seven districts during the protest.
According to BJD, 6,818 persons, including 5,916 tribals, will be displaced due to the project. The project will also lead to submergence of 15 revenue villages, 10 hamlets and 7,656 hectares of land if the Andhra Pradesh government increases the height of Polavaram dam from 150 feet to 220 feet.
The party has also said that if the Centre does not take any steps to address Orissa’s concern by September end the party will resort to ‘hartal’ in the seven Southern Orissa districts October 1.
