Sasmit Raises Polavaram Issue in Rajya Sabha; More Than 6000 People to Get Affected

Bhubaneswar: While the Polavaram project is poised to adversely affect the lives of thousands of people in Odisha, the Centre is going ahead with the controversial project without considering its negative impacts on Odisha, said BJD MP Dr. Sasmit Patra on Monday.

Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha, the BJD MP said, “Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has repeatedly written to the Centre specifying that about 6,000 people, including tribals, will lose their land in Odisha due to large-scale submergence. Thousands of hectares will get affected”.

“No Gram Sabhas have been conducted in Odisha. People have not been consulted,” Patra said.

Since the project is being expedited, it is going to have a huge impact on the people of Odisha, he said.

“But, till now, redressal has not been done. The case is pending in the Supreme Court. The ministry is proceeding with the work without taking it into consideration,” he added.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat refused to answer Patra’s supplementary question on the controversial project stating that the matter is pending in the Supreme Court.

The Union Minister said, “Making any comment on the issue would not be proper as all the matters related to Polavaram by three states Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana are pending in the Supreme Court”.

Meanwhile, the BJD MP said that he will keep raising issues of the State and highlight the areas where the State’s interests are not being met.