Post News Network
New Delhi: BJD MPs Tuesday trooped into the well of Lok Sabha protesting against the construction of Polavaram project. The members sought a statement from Union minister of state for water resources Sanwar Lal Jat and demanded suspension of the construction work.
Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patsani, who raised the issue during zero hour in Lok Sabha, said, “It is most unfortunate that construction of the project is proceeding unilaterally despite the case pending before the Supreme Court.… My submission is that this matter must be considered, debated and discussed on the floor of this Parliament. Speaker, you must order the minister to stop the work and give a statement in the House.”
Dhenkanal MP Tathagata Satpathy said, “We want a statement on the floor of the House. This is a very serious issue.”
Centre is learnt to have sanctioned Rs 10,000 crore for the project which would submerge several tribal villages in the upper catchment area.
“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has written to the Prime Minister time and again in this regard. We learnt from a reply in Rajya Sabha that the Centre has approved `10,000 crore for construction of the dam. There was no Palli Sabha. Without the consent of the all affected states, how could the Centre release the money for the construction,” said BJD MP Balabhadra Majhi.
Following the protests by the BJD MPs, the House was adjourned for a brief period. BJD members have decided to stage a protest near the Mahatma Gandhi statue Wednesday.
