BJP seeks Prez intervention in Polavaram project | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

BJP seeks Prez intervention in Polavaram project

PTI | By, Bhubaneswar
Jan 25, 2009 10:36 AM IST

Criticising the UPA Govt at the centre for giving clearance to Andhra Pradesh's Indira Sagar Polavaram dam, the ruling BJP in Orissa sought President Pratibha Patil's intervention in scraping the controversial project.

Criticising the UPA government at the centre for giving clearance to Andhra Pradesh's Indira Sagar Polavaram dam, the ruling BJP in Orissa on Saturday sought President Pratibha Patil's intervention in scraping the controversial project.

HT Image
HT Image

The leaders of the regional party sat on a dharna in front of the Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar to highlight the adverse impact of the project on Orissa and said the dam would pose a great threat to the ecology and habitat in Malkangiri district.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

In a memorandum to the president, they said that the project would submerse nearly a dozen of villages in Malkangiri district, which is inhabitated by the primitive Koya tribes.

"It is strange that the technical advisory committee of the Central Water Commission (CWC) approved the project without taking into confidence the neighbouring states like Orissa, Chhatishgarh. It is legally incumbent upon the CWC to consult affected parties before granting technical approval," they said.

The leaders claimed that the National Environment Appellate Tribunal had also quashed the 10,150-crore Indira Sagar Polavaram multi-purpose project on river Godavari but its clearance by the CWC had violated the order of Orissa High Court and also the norms of Godavari water dispute tribunal.

Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had lodged a protest with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, demanding that the project should not be given national project status as it was "anti-people" and "ant-tribal".

"The exercise of Andhra Pradesh government in collusion with the Congress-led UPA government can be construed as an anti-people measure," they said.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On