Governor highlights importance of skilling

State BJP government is silent

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Debi Mishra on Tuesday voiced serious concern over the continued violations and unilateral progress of the Polavaram Project by the Andhra Pradesh Government, allegedly with the active support of the Centre.

He asserted that Odisha's interests, particularly those of tribal communities in Malkangiri, must not be compromised.

Mishra pointed out that the Polavaram Project, originally approved with a discharge capacity of 36 lakh cusecs in 2006, was later unilaterally revised to 56 lakh cusecs—a clear violation of the Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal (GWDT) recommendations. This revision, done without the consent of Odisha or other riparian states, raises serious concerns about potential submergence and displacement in Odisha.

Refuting the BJP-led Odisha Government's allegations that the former BJD administration was indifferent to the issue, Mishra reminded that it was the BJD Government which filed Original Suit No. 4/2007 in the Supreme Court. "We fought politically in Parliament, in the Assembly, and on the ground. Even former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held direct consultations with affected tribal communities in 2024," he said.

He noted that despite the lack of forest and environmental clearances, and a 2011 stop-work order from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, work on the project has continued unchecked.