Bhubaneswar: The State Legislative Assembly witnessed pandemonium during Zero Hour over the Polavaram project, which is likely to submerge a large chunk of land in tribal-dominated Malkangiri district.
Speaker Surama Padhi adjourned the House firstly for 15 minutes and then till 4 PM.
After a three-day stalemate in the Assembly over the opposition’s demand to arrest the governor’s son for allegedly assaulting a government official, the situation normalized on Thursday when the Assembly convened at 10.30 AM to take up the Question Hour.
However, trouble started during Zero Hour when opposition Congress members trooped into the well of the house over the Polavaram project, stating that the project would displace thousands of tribals in several Odisha villages.
He strongly criticised the BJP-led Central government for promoting the Polavaram project which will inundate about 1400 hectare to 1500 hectare of land in Malkangiri district.
Claiming that poor and innocent tribals in Malkangiri district will be victims of the Polavaram project, the Congress leader said that the Centre promoted the irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh without resolving the problems of the affected people in Odisha.
The CLP leader demanded that a House Committee be formed to discuss the Polavaram project and its impact on tribal people in Malkangiri district.
Not only tribal people, Kadam pointed out that the Polavaram project’s adverse effect will also impact the forests, wildlife and the local environment.
“The 20 MPs elected from Odisha and the double engine government in the state have failed to protect the interest of the people in Malkangiri district,” the Congress leader said.
Shri Bahinipati attempted to climb the Speaker’s podium while Kadam was seen protesting in the House by standing on the reporter’s table.
The Opposition BJD members also joined the Congress MLAs in the well and demanded the expunge of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling’s statement to arrest Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on charge of creating disturbance during the Governor’s speech in the Assembly on Monday. The BJD members shouted slogans in the well of the House.
The House soon plunged into chaos, with both the Congress and the BJD members shouting slogans against the government regarding their respective demands. Sensing the problem and unable to bring the house to order, Speaker Surama Padhy adjourned till the post-lunch session.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who also holds the Finance portfolio, will present the BJP government’s first annual budget 2024-25 this afternoon.