05-Mar-2022

New Delhi, Despite strong opposition from Odisha, the central government has been quick to complete the Polavaram Indira Sagar Multipurpose Irrigation Project. Union Water Resources Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited the Polavaram project area on Friday. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR along with Jaganmohan Reddy reviewed the progress of the construction of the project.
Mr. Shekhawat told the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister during the talks that the Center was committed to completing the construction of the project. Mr Shekhawat said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to work with the state government to speed up the project and that the central government would bear all the costs of the project. He said the central government, along with the state government, was working to complete the first phase of the project within a year. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Reddy told the Union Minister that the Polavaram project was a lifeline for Andhra Pradesh. "It simply came to our notice then. It has also extended construction permits for two years. Andhra Pradesh has been accused of building the Polavaram project, ignoring the larger interests of Odisha. The state government has been informed by the state government that the indigenous people living in Malkangiri district of Odisha will be affected if the project is not stopped. The case is being re-assigned to another court, this time the Supreme Court.