Opposition’s ‘Polavaram’ challenge to the government in the assembly, ‘four engines’ to solve the problem

Millions of homes in Malkanagiri district will be submerged. Odisha’s tribal population of Malkanagiri will face man-made disaster for Polavaram. The previous government had vehemently opposed the Polavaram project, from the Supreme Court to the tribunals and the central government. But the center did not listen to the requests and demands of the BJD government. While there is a BJP government in Odisha, the Andhra government, which is doing the Polavaram project, is a close ally of the central government. BJP government in Chhattisgarh is also going to be affected by this. Most of the people who will be affected by this project are tribals while the President of the country and the Chief Minister of Odisha are tribals. Therefore, the opposition has called for the four-engine government to wipe the tears of the tribal people of Malkanagiri.

BJD MLA Dr Arun Kumar Sahu raised the issue of the river water dispute in the Assembly today and demanded that the BJP’s four engine government, i.e. the four brothers, should sit together and resolve the dispute. Dase said that the MLAs of all parties, irrespective of party affiliation, know very well how much damage will be done to Odisha in case of Polavaram project. The new government made desperate efforts to stop the project; But the central government did not listen to it. Oalti discharged his duties by leaving the case to the tribunal. But till date, the An Atarajya river dispute has not been resolved in the tribunal but time is running out. On the other hand, the central government has released all funds to Andhra as the government has saved the state by providing support. The central government has extended its hand of cooperation to complete the Polavaram project by paying Rs.15 billion. Height, width of Polavaram dam has been increased. During the flood, up to 84 lakh cusecs of water will flow. This will put lakhs of tribals of Odisha at risk. Chhattisgarh will also be affected by this project. Now BJP government is running in Centre, Odisha and Chhattisgarh and coalition government is running in Andhra. So all together how to solve the Polavaram conflict and save the people of Odisha. “This will really protect Odia Asmita,” said Dr. Sahu.

Sensing the impending distress of the poor tribal families, a delegation of the BJD president and the leader of the opposition party, Naveen Patnaik, visited Malkangiri and gave a report on the possible damage to the president after assessing the situation. The BJD team, led by former minister Atanu Sabyasachi Naik, visited the affected villages of Malkanagiri and also discussed with the affected people of Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, the BJD team reached Mugi point at the confluence of Godavari, Saberi and Sile on the Odisha border to assess the situation and held discussions with the water resources officials. The team stated in its report that many people in Malkangiri will be left homeless if the project is completed. Many villages, forests, farm lands will be submerged. Motu and Podia blocks are threatened to be erased from the map of Odisha. The project will submerge around 200 villages and take away livelihoods from 6,000 people. But how the project will be completed quickly, the central government to give special grants and support to Andhra Pradesh is like giving lime to the wounds of the people of Odisha. Sahu said.