BJD urges Oram’s intervention to safeguard Malkangiri tribals from Polavaram project impact

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), principal opposition in Odisha, today urged Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram to intervene and address the grave concerns of tribals in Malkangiri whose lives and livelihoods face threat from Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram Project.

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In a letter to the Minister, BJD MPs, MLAs, former Ministers and former MPs highlighted the imminent submergence of large areas in Malkangiri due to the project. They said the displacement of thousands of tribal people, particularly those from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), requires urgent attention. The leaders recalled that a BJD delegation had earlier met the Tribal Affairs Secretary and Chairman of the Scheduled Tribes Commission on December 4, 2024, and submitted a memorandum, but their concerns remained unaddressed. Quoting the Supreme Court’s order of September 6, 2022, which called for more technical studies and environmental clearances, the party urged the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to play a proactive role in protecting Odisha’s tribals.