Modi refuses to stop Andhra Pradesh dam funding

Refusing to accept the Orissa government’s plea that the Centre should stop funding for the controversial Polavaram dam project in Andhra Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi instead has assured the state that he would soon convene a meeting of the Niti Aayog and other concerned agencies like Central Water Comm-ission to study the ramifications of the project and address its concerns.

A delegation of MPs from Biju Janata Dal, which rules Orissa, had met the Prime Minister last Thursday, seeking his intervention on the matter concerning the project, which once constructed, is likely to submerge parts of the state along with that of Chhattisgarh and Telang-ana. During the hour-long meeting, the delegation pressed upon the Prime Minister to curb funding for the project, as it is a national project. Sources privy to the development however, said that the Prime Minister was not too keen about the BJD’s suggestion, and is learnt to have assured them that he would look into the matter. A meeting of the Niti Aayog, as well as the CWC, may be called to understand the issues pertaining to the project.

Mr Modi’s reservations over BJD delegation’s suggestion to stop funding for the project was mainly driven by the fact that it is a national project, sources reasoned.

The Prime Minister’s decision may come as a respite to the Andhra Pradesh government, which is continuing with the construction of the dam with the help of Central aid.

At the same time though, both Orissa and Chhatt-isgarh governments have petitioned the SC against the Polavaram project and the matter is subjudice. The dam is coming up on the Godavari river.

The PMO, sources said, may also invite representatives of Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Telangana to attend the proposed meeting of the Niti Aayog on the Polavaram project.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act passed by the UPA Government, stated that Central Government will bear 100 per cent cost for construction of the Polavaram project. The Centre will bear Rs 10,874 crore on this project that is likely to be completed by March 2018.

Incidentally, a demand for immediate stoppage of work on the Polavaram multi-purpose project was also made by the BJD in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Winter session of Parliament.

Raising the issue on December 11, party leader Bhartruhari Mahtab had said that large areas in tribal-dominated Malkangiri district of Odisha were being inundanted in the project.

He said when the work on the project started, it was assured by the Centre that not an inch of land in Odisha would be submerged.

Claiming that the views of Odisha were not considered by the Tribal Affairs Ministry before giving rehabilitation and resettlement clearance, Mr Mahtab alleged that Chhattisgarh, which is also affected, was also not being consulted.