Bhubaneswar: A Biju Janata Dal (BJD) delegation met Union Environment, Forest & Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav and Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram in New Delhi Thursday, seeking urgent intervention to protect tribal rights in Malkangiri district and expressing concerns over the Polavaram Project.
The delegation included BJD senior vice president Debi Prasad Mishra, MP Manas Ranjan Mangaraj, MP Subhashish Khuntia and other prominent leaders.
The delegation strongly objected to the ongoing submergence risk from the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh, noting that repeated appeals and meetings with the Centre have yet to yield substantial action.
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Citing the Supreme Court’s 2022 observation that mandated environmental clearances, backwater studies, and stakeholder consultation, the BJD accused the Centre of ignoring judicial directives.
The party noted that while environmental and resettlement clearances were granted in 2005 and 2007, the project has since been expanded without fresh approvals.
The BJD’s key demands included an independent backwater study, a comprehensive review of environmental and social impacts on Malkangiri and neighbouring tribal areas, and a dedicated impact assessment on tribal communities such as the Koya, Bonda, Gadaba, and Kandha. The delegation warned that the revised flood discharge capacity of 50 lakh cusecs, along with the Centre’s recent sanction of `17,936 crore for project completion, will heighten displacement risks for Odisha’s tribal population. “Development cannot come at the cost of displacement and cultural destruction,” the delegation stated, vowing to continue its fight on all platforms.
PNN
