Odisha Sun Times Bureau
New Delhi, Sep 30:

The Supreme Court today admitted a petition filed by Odisha challenging accord of national project status tag to Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project.

Supreme Court of India SC

Conducting a hearing on the petition, the apex court served notices to Andhra Pradesh and Central governments seeking replies within four weeks.

The court while scheduling the next hearing in the matter after six weeks has made Karnataka and Maharashtra parties in the case.

“The Supreme Court today issued notices on our application seeking to make Chhattisgarh and Telangana parties in the case. The apex court today issued notices on our amended application challenging section 90 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act. Andhra Pradesh government and the Union of India have been asked by the court to file their replies in the matter within four weeks. If the situation so demands, Odisha can file rejoinder two weeks thereafter. The court will take up the matter for hearing six weeks.   Further, the court considering their earlier made applications allowed Karnataka and Maharashtra to be made parties in the case,” informed Radheshyam Jena, Odisha government’s counsel.

Notably, apprehending that several villages in Malkangiri district will be submerged with the coming up of the Polavaram project, the Odisha government had moved the apex court opposing it.

While the erstwhile UPA government at the Centre had accorded national project status tag to Polavaram project, the incumbent NDA government has announced to provide all financial support to the project.

Even National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has inked an agreement to extend financial assistance to the project.

Also, Telangana and Chhattisgarh governments are opposing Polavaram project.