Intensifying its protest against the Centre’s stand on the controversial Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh, BJD MPs and MlAs on Wednesday staged demonstrations in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Parliament and Assembly premises shouting slogans against the NDA Government.
Almost all the parliamentarians of the regional party, who have been questioning the Centre’s financial allocation for the project ignoring Odisha’s appeal, participated in the dharna and vowed to take up the issue to its logical end.
Holding placards in hands mentioning that the project would cause harm Odisha, the lawmakers termed the Centre’s decision as unfortunate.
“We are not opposing the Polavaram project only today. We have been protesting the project for many years because hundreds of villages (in Malkangiri) will be submerged while thousands of poor citizens would lose their belongings and properties,” said party lok Sabha member Baijayant Panda.
He said that in fact, the technical committee has also raised questions about the height of the irrigation project.
“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has taken up the matter with the Centre many times. The matter is sub-judice. It is unfortunate that the project is going ahead,” Panda added.
In the Rajya Sabha, Congress member Ranjib Biswal and Independent member Pyarimohan Mohapatra also raised the Polavaram issue and strongly protested the project.
A similar scene also prevailed in the State Assembly in the day while BJD members raised the issue in the House and later sat in a dharna in front of the Gandhi statue at the Assembly premises.
Minutes after the Question Hour, the BJD MlAs stood up at their seats and shouted anti-Polavaram slogans forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House till 3 pm. As soon as the House stood adjourned, the MlAs staged the sit-in in front of the Gandhi statue.
“Due to increase in the dam height, many tribal hamlets of Malkangiri and neighboring districts would be inundated,” said Panchayati Raj and law Minister Arun Sahoo. Commerce and Transport Minister Ramesh Majhi too blamed the Centre and said the State Government would protest till it gets justice.