Odisha CM urges Union Environment Min to stop Polavaram Construction immediately

KalingaTV News Network

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan to immediately stop the construction work of the multipurpose Polavaram Project till the issues pertaining to the State of Odisha resolved.

In his letter, Patnaik mentioned that the Polavaram Project violates the norms of the Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal (GWDT) Award.

“The construction of Polavaram Project is in violation of the Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal (GWDT) Award, and it is being constructed without correctly assessing the back water extent in the Sabari and Sileru limbs in the territory of Odisha,” Patnaik said.

The Chief Minister also stated that Odisha is not being informed on issue of “Stop Work Order”.

“I must mention that the State of odisha is not being informed on the issue of “STop Work Order”being kept in Abeyance with reasons there of time to time by MoEF, thus allowing the construction of Polavaram head works and distribution system uninterruptedly,” the Chief Minister alleged.

Earlier, Patnaik asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene the matter and stop the construction work saying, “The magnitude of the consequence that the people of Odisha will have to face viz. the submergence of tribal lands, the flooding of fertile agricultural lands, mass displacement of villages, all of which can be avoided if only an opportunity is given for a final resolution of the disputes pending before the Supreme Court”.