Bhubaneswar: All eyes are set on the crucial meeting scheduled for May 28, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will engage with the Chief Ministers of four states, including Odisha, to discuss the contentious Polavaram project. This marks the Prime Minister’s first direct interaction with the Chief Ministers of the stakeholder states regarding the national project being constructed in Andhra Pradesh.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi confirmed his participation, stating, “If any meeting will be held at PM-level in presence of the CMs, the State will put forth its report.” He initially indicated a potential meeting with the Chief Secretary and senior officers but acknowledged the possibility of a broader discussion involving the Chief Ministers.
The Polavaram project has faced significant opposition from Odisha, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh due to concerns over the submergence of lands and habitations. Despite multiple rounds of official-level deliberations, no resolution has been reached, and petitions filed by the three states remain pending before the Supreme Court.
Odisha, in particular, has raised strong objections, highlighting the potential inundation of several villages in the Malkangiri district. The State argues that the project was approved without adequate consideration of the backwater impact on upstream regions. While Andhra Pradesh has proposed constructing a retaining wall, Odisha and Chhattisgarh have expressed further concerns regarding land acquisition and rehabilitation.
The previous BJD government in Odisha had consistently opposed the project, emphasizing the risk to the Malkangiri population, who face the prospect of losing their land and homes.
The Polavaram project, declared a national project by the UPA-II Government as part of the Andhra Pradesh bifurcation promises, has now prompted direct intervention from Prime Minister Shri Modi. This meeting signifies the Union Government’s effort to find an amicable solution for all involved states.
Sources indicate that Chief Secretaries were informed about the May 28 meeting via video conference. The meeting will involve irrigation ministers and senior officials from the four states, along with officials from the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, the Central Water Commission, and the Polavaram Project Authority.