New Delhi: Eight revenue villages, with 1,002 estimated project affected families in Malkangiri District of Odisha likely to be affected by submergence due to completion of Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP).
Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Choudhary has informed this in Rajya Sabha today while replying to a question of BJD MP Niranjan Bishi.
“As per Socio Economic Survey, 2005, if option of protective embankments with adequate drainage arrangement to protect the lands and properties above estimated level +150 ft against submergence is not exercised by Odisha, then eight revenue villages, with 1,002 estimated project affected families in Malkangiri District of Odisha are likely to be affected by submergence due to completion of PIP,” Shri Choudhary said.
He said Polavaram irrigation project is being taken up as per the interstate agreement between the States of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh (now Chhattisgarh) & Odisha dated 02.04.1980, and also as per the provisions of Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal (GWDT) Award, 1980.
Odisha can exercise option either for protective embankments with adequate drainage arrangements to protect the lands and properties likely to be affected in their territories or for compensation (rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced people from the affected villages) for the areas and properties going to be affected on the same pattern at the project cost, the Union Minister said.
Further, provision of construction of protective embankment with suitable drainage arrangements for a total length of 30.20 km (12 km along Sileru River and 18.20 km along Sabari River) in Malkangiri district has been kept in the project, he informed.
For resolution of concerns of Odisha raised which highlighted the apprehensions of Odisha mainly on backwater study of PIP, extent of submergence in the State due to the project and also in compliance of the directions given by Supreme Court, the Union Minister said, several meetings have been held in Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti and Central Water Commission with the officers of the stakeholder States including Odisha and steps were taken for seeking convergence on resolution of issues.
In another reply to a question of MP Sasmit Patra, Shri Choudhary said 648.05 hectares of land likely to submerge in Odisha for the Polavaram project, of which 102.16 ha are forest land.