SC seeks Centre's response to Polavaram
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COMMENTS 
The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to file its response to the Orissa government’s plea to quash clearance for the Andhra Pradesh government’s controversial Polavaram dam project
The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre seeking an explanation, within four weeks, for the Orissa government’s objections to the multi-crore-rupee Polavaram Irrigation Project to be constructed across the river Godavari in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
The Orissa government has moved the Supreme Court against the granting of national project status by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to the project.
A Bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma issued a notice to the Centre after senior counsel Raju Ramachandran, appearing for the Orissa government, submitted that the project would adversely affect the interests of the state.
The Orissa government says the project will submerge vast tracts of land in Malkangiri district and displace a large number of people. It further claims that a huge chunk of forest land will be submerged due to the project, and raises objection to the granting of national project clearance without it being consulted.
According to the Andhra Pradesh government, the project will provide drinking water to 3 million people, produce 960 MW of power, and give 23,500 million cubic feet of water to industry. Members of the National Forum Against Polavaram Dam (NFAPA) in Hyderabad have resolved to stall the project and expose the state government’s alleged lies regarding the issue.
Observing that the mammoth dam project would submerge over 200,000 people and 300 habitations, the organisation’s convenor Badal Kumar Tah says: “The project must be stalled as in its present form no consent has been taken from people in the affected areas and neighbouring states like Orissa and Chhattisgarh.”
NFAPD co-convenor Bharat Bhushan adds: “In May 2005, the state government came up with an official order stating that over 2.3 million acres would be irrigated with the help of the project. However, another report submitted by the same government stated that not more than 7.1 lakh acres would be irrigated. Violations of various laws and the snubbing of gram panchayats basically amounts to a violation of every democratic right possible.”
Source: Press Trust of India, October 5, 2010
Deccan Chronicle, October 4, September 29, 2010