BJD Urges CWC to Halt Polavaram Project Over Tribal Displacement in Odisha

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar, August 20(OT Webdesk): The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has formally protested the ongoing Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh, citing severe submergence in Odisha’s Malkangiri district and the displacement of thousands of tribal families.

A delegation of senior BJD leaders met officials of the Central Water Commission (CWC) on Wednesday, submitting a memorandum that flagged ecological and humanitarian concerns.

Led by Coordination Committee Chairperson Debi Prasad Mishra, the delegation included MPs Sasmit Patra, Sulochana Deo, Niranjan Bisi, and others. The party alleged that the project violates Supreme Court directives and legal advisories, and demanded immediate remedial action.

Key demands include:

• A complete halt to construction activities.
• High-level talks between the Chief Ministers of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
• Redesign of the project to mitigate flood risks.
• Implementation of IIT Roorkee’s recommendations on water release management.
• Rehabilitation plans for displaced tribal families in consultation with the Odisha government.

BJD leaders emphasised that the project threatens rare tribal communities and the ecological balance of Malkangiri, calling it an “existential crisis” for the region.