BJD urges CWC to stop Polavaram work, cites threat to Odisha tribals

Expressing deep concern over submergence of large areas in Odisha’s Malkangiri district due to the Polavaram Project in Andhra Pradesh and its adverse effect on livelihoods of thousands of tribal people, especially those from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the Chairman Central Water Commission (CWC) at New Delhi seeking safeguarding the larger interest of the would-be-affected people in the state.

Seeking reassessment of the submergence levels and revision of the Polavaram project accordingly to prevent any adverse impact on Odisha, BJD called upon CWC to issue a stop work order to the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Union Government until the demands of Odisha are addressed.

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Demanding initiation of a consultation process with all the concerned Chief Ministers through the CWC, BJD called for the prioritization of the safety and well-being of the tribal communities in Malkangiri by conducting proper surveys and identifying the areas likely to be submerged.

Stating that despite the recommendations of experts and the Odisha Government’s concerns regarding the safety of tribal populations and people of Malkangiri district, the BJD pointed out that CWC has refused to conduct a fresh backwater study for the revised design flood.

The memorandum pointed out the Apex Court ruling in 2022, which had expressed reservations on the expansion of the project.

“There are some technical reports available, but more may be required depending on the expansion of the project. Similarly, the issue of environmental clearances would also have to be addressed. It is our suggestion that a pioneering role must be played by the Central Water Commission and a meeting be called of all the stakeholders”, the Supreme Court had observed in 2022, adjudicating the writ petition filed in this regard.

Apprehending the adverse impact of the project in Malkangiri, the party said the Centre has recently sanctioned Rs 17,936 crores for the completion of the Polavaram Project, paying little heed to Odisha’s concern.

This project was conceived under the resolution of the Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal (GWDT), which outlined agreements between Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh.

However, significant changes have been made to the original design flood discharge capacity, increasing the flood discharge from 36 lakh cusecs to 50 lakh cusecs, without sufficient consideration of the backwater impact in the upstream states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh. This shift has caused apprehensions among the affected populations of Malkangiri, who are at the risk of losing their lands and homes, the memorandum stated.

A Convention of the Polavaram Action Committee comprising all stakeholders of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, including all Tribal people and inhabitants of the affected area, was held on 28 February last at Motu in Malkangiri district.

The convention unanimously raised grave concerns about the plausible damage to the livelihood, ecology, and displacement issues in Malkangiri and adjoining areas of Andhra Pradesh & Chhattisgarh.

Allaying apprehensions of displacement expressed by various quarters, the Centre, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha in February last year, claimed that there would be no submergence in Odisha due to the Polavaram irrigation project if the option of building protective embankments with adequate drainage arrangements to protect land and property is exercised by the state.