Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 21: BJD MLAs Wednesday addressed a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking his immediate intervention in the Mahanadi and Polavaram disputes to protect Orissa’s interest. They submitted the memorandum to Governor SC Jamir here.
After creating ruckus in the Assembly over the twin issues, the BJD lawmakers rushed to Raj Bhawan soon after the House was adjourned for the day by Speaker Niranjan Pujari.
The BJD team demanded an immediate halt on construction of barrages and dams taken up by Chhattisgarh on Mahanadi ‘unilaterally.’ They also appraised the Governor about the Polavaram issue.
The delegation accused the Centre of supporting Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh governments on Mahanadi and Polavaram respectively. They claimed that projects on Mahanadi and Polavaram were being undertaken without taking Orissa’s interest into consideration.
BJD leader and minister Debi Prasad Mishra said, “Chhattisgarh is constructing its barrage projects more swiftly even as Orissa has been requesting it to stop the work as it will severely affect flow of water into Hirakud reservoir. As Centre has remained a mute spectator, so we have sought the President’s immediate intervention.”
Parliamentary affairs minister Bikram Keshari Arukh said Polavaram project will displace thousands of tribals in Malkangiri district.
“Around 15 revenue villages and 10 hamlets will be submerged and a total of 7,656 hectares of land will be inundated if the Andhra Pradesh government increases the height of the Polavaram dam to 220 feet from the previously planned 150 feet,” BJD leaders claimed.
“We seek the President’s intervention to stop this project to which the Centre has decided to give full aid at a time when the matter is pending before the Supreme Court,” they added.
