Odisha seeks to stop Polavaram construction work immediately

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday requested the union government to immediately stop construction work of Polavaram project till the issues pertaining to Odisha is resolved.

In a letter to Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan, the Chief Minister said Odisha is not informed on the issue of ‘stop work order’ being kept in abeyance from time to time by the ministry, thus allowing the construction of Polavaram headworks and distribution system uninterruptedly.

He said the construction of Polavaram project is in violation of Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal Award, and it is being constructed without correctly assessing the backwater extent in the Sabari and Sileru limbs in the territory of Odisha.