Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concern over the ongoing construction work of the Polavaram project on river Godavari in Andhra Pradesh despite the matter being sub-judice.
Patnaik in his letter stated, “I am concerned about the way the interests of the people of Odisha are being sacrificed in the matter of Polavaram project without addressing our legitimate concerns. It is unfortunate that the construction of the project is going on at a rapid pace despite the pendency of the matter in the Supreme Court.”
If the Polavaram project is permitted to proceed, a large number of villages in Malkangiri district of Odisha belonging to Scheduled Tribes will be submerged, mentioned the Chief Minister.
“The project works are going on without conducting any public hearing in Odisha which is mandatory requirement for getting any environmental clearance. It is surprising that neither the concerns of those most affected by the project nor their involvement is sought,” the Chief Minister added, seeking the PM’s intervention and not to allow the construction of the project until all the pending issues are settled by the apex court,” Patnaik stated.
