Protesting the Centre’s decision to implement the controversial Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh and provide cent per cent funds for the project,members of the Utkal Sammilani staged a dharna in front of the State Assembly hereon Monday.
Sammilani State president Dr Guruprasad Mohnaty said if the project is implemented on the Godavari river, many schools, medicals and police stations in several villages under the Motu Tehsil in tribal-dominated Malkangiri district would be submerged. This could change the map of Odisha.
The agitators demanded an immediate roll back in the ill-fated decision and warned that mass agitations would be staged by people across the State if the Centre does not withdraw its decision forthwith.
Sammilani State vice-president Ananta Prasad Jena, general secretary Adwaita Patra, treasurer usharani Mohanty and Mancheswar Industrial Estate branch head Dillip Dashsharma led the protest.