Bhubaneswar: In what may strengthen the state government’s case in the Supreme Court over the controversial Polavaram project, the Telangana government Monday said it will back Orissa and may possibly become a party in the state’s legal fight against Andhra Pradesh.
An envoy of the Telangana government, T Ramachandru, who called on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday, shared with him his government’s concern over the project. “Not just Orissa and Chhattisgarh, the project will adversely affect lakhs of tribals especially certain primitive tribes in Telangana and we are equally concerned about it,” Ramachandru told reporters here.
He said though Orissa has moved the Supreme Court over the issue and the matter is sub-judice, the Andhra government with the help of the Centre is continuing with its construction work at the project.
The special representative to Telangana government said around two lakh people, mostly from Konda Reddy primitive tribe, will be displaced by the present model of the project. “Though we don’t oppose the project per se we want certain modifications in it. Instated of taking it as a single dam project, three barrages should be built there for irrigation, drinking water and power generation purposes. It will not only lower the project cost but would bring down the displacement figure to around 35 per cent of the present survey, he said.
In December last year, Deputy CM of Telangana Kadiyam Srihari had called on the Chief Minister in this regard and had announced Telangana’s support to the state’s demand for stopping the project until all concerns are addressed.
The state government is strongly opposed to the project claiming that the Motu area of Malkangiri will be severely affected by the project that will lead to massive displacement of and loss of livelihood for thousands of tribals.”It is unfortunate that the construction of the project is going on at a rapid pace despite the pendency of the matter in the Supreme Court,” the CM had then said. The state government had sought the support of Telangana and Chhattisgarh over this issue.
PNN