BJD to Intensify Protests Against Polavaram Project

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the main opposition party in Odisha, has announced plans to escalate its protests against the Polavaram multipurpose project in Andhra Pradesh starting January next year. The party aims to raise concerns over the potential impact of the project on Odisha’s Malkangiri district.

In a statement, the party said it would organize a series of demonstrations beginning in the Motu area of Malkangiri, progressing through Bhubaneswar, and culminating in New Delhi. BJD president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed party members to mobilize for the protests.

The BJD claims that the current design of the Polavaram dam, built on the Godavari river, will submerge around 150 villages in the Motu area of Malkangiri district, displacing residents and causing significant harm. The party plans to consult with local residents in Malkangiri before intensifying its agitation.

A team of BJD leaders had visited the affected areas in July and August this year to assess the potential impact. They submitted a report to Patnaik, highlighting the likely submergence of villages due to the project.

Recently, a seven-member BJD delegation visited New Delhi to meet Union Jal Shakti Minister and the Chairman of the Central Water Commission (CWC). They demanded a fresh backwater study of the Polavaram project to reassess its impact on Odisha.

The BJD has pledged to continue its fight to safeguard the interests of Malkangiri’s residents.