The Odisha Government would file a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the Union Cabinet for constitution of a Polavaram Project Authority to ensure execution of the controversial Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh, against which a case is still pending for disposal in the Supreme Court.
“We will move the Supreme Court very soon seeking an injunction over the Union Cabinet’s approval to constitute a Polavaram Project Authority and its operation after detailed examination of a copy of the Central Cabinet’s decision,” said State Water Resources Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra here on Wednesday.
Since Chhattisgarh would also be affected by the Polavaram project, he said, Odisha would share the related documents with this neighbouring State to avoid any discrepancy. “We may move against the Centre jointly and both the Governments are in touch with each other,” he said.
Taking strong exception to the move by the Andhra Pradesh and Union Governments on the Polavaram project, Mohapatra said that though the technical issues like the design, height and the reservoir operation schedule were fixed by the Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal, the Technical Advisory Committee of the Central Water Commission unilaterally changed the design, height and operation schedule of the reservoir without consulting Odisha and Chhattisgarh, thereby violating the tribunal’s guidelines.
It is unfortunate that the TAC ignored the appeal of the Odisha Government to take its opinion during the hearing and final decision on the controversial issue, Mohapatra said.
He said that taking into account the present DPR as far as the height of the embankment of the project is concerned, an estimated 100 sqkm of areas would be submerged in over 100 villages in Malkangiri district.
As per the DPR, a 30-km-long and 45-feet-high embankment would be constructed within the Odisha territory along the river Saberi and Sileru as a permanent solution to any possible submergence.
Besides, there is also provision to pump out the flood waters back on the Godavari river during rainy season to avoid any submergence problem on the Odisha side, he pointed out. However, he said these provisions are unrealistic and would bring sorrow to Odisha.