Odisha Seeks Centre’s Intervention To Get Polavaram DPR

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has urged the Centre to direct the Andhra Pradesh government to provide the latest detailed project report (DPR) on the controversial Polavaram irrigation project.

Odisha had expressed its concern about the non-sharing of latest DPR at the joint committee meeting held in June this year on Polavaram issue.

“Odisha expressed its concern about the non-sharing of the latest DPR of Polavaram project submitted to the CWC with Odisha,” said State Water Resources Secretary PK Jena.

In a letter to the Special Secretary in the Ministry of River Development, Amarjeet Singh, Jena said the state is yet to receive the latest DPR report of the Andhra Pradesh government submitted to the Central Water Commission (CWC) for the Polavaram project.

The Andhra Pradesh government was advised by the chairman of the committee to provide the same in complete shape comprising all the volumes to the Odisha government immediately,” he pointed out.

Andhra Pradesh government had also assured that it would provide the configuration of protective embankments with their design details, and the details submergence along with the land to be acquired in Odisha and their classification, Jena said.

“I am sorry to say that the Andhra Pradesh government has not provided the documents or information so far to Odisha government,” the Water Resources secretary said in the letter.

“This shows the keenness of the Andhra Pradesh government in resolving Polavaram issue,” he added.

Notably, the state government is opposing the controversial project as it is likely to submerge some parts of Malkangiri district in Odisha.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has written letters to the Union Government several times opposing the project, which was declared national project.