Polavaram project: To-be displaced people meet in Odisha, demand fresh survey

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Koraput/Bhubaneswar, Nov 24:

People from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telengana and Odisha who would be displaced due to the controversial Polavaram project, today demanded immediate halting of the project and sought for a proper survey.

These people who held a conference at Koraput claimed that with the coming up of the project four lakh people would displaced.

They said hundreds of people especially in Malkangiri district’s Padia, Kalimela, Korukonda and Mathili blocks would be affected.

“Over four lakh people spread over in these four states will be affected due to the Polavaram project. Over 130 villages in four blocks in Malkangiri district of Odisha will be affected due to the project. Most of those who would be affected are tribals. This huge project is being dumped on the tribals with the only intention of providing water to corporates,” said Bhalendra Sarangi, Convener of the conference.

While Odisha government claims that with coming up of the Polavaram project 25 villages, 76,000 hectares of land and 6,800 tribals would be affected, the Centre on the other hand, based on inputs provided by the Andhra Pradesh government has said that the project would provide 142 cubic million metres of water to Odisha annually which can be used to either irrigate 30,000 hectares or provide drinking water to 30 lakh people.

The BJD, which is the ruling party in the state, has claimed to be with the displaced.

“We are with the displaced tribal brothers and sisters. Odisha has kept its fight on for their interest. The state government is prepared to any extent to safeguard the interest of the people,” said Samir Dash, BJD spokesperson.