Polavaram Politics

Hemant Kumar Pradhan
PG Dept.of Journalism and Mass communication,
Berhampur University

The Orissa government has submitted a writ petition in the Supreme Court on 4th September, 2010 seeking cancellation of clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to the controversial Rs 10,000 crore Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh state, which is a matter of worry as it would inundate several parts of the state. In the petition, Orissa government urged the court to cancel the clearance on the ground that it would affect the lives of thousands of people in its state due to massive embankment being constructed by Andhra Pradesh. Even if the matter is under adjudication in the apex court, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) had granted clearance to the project.

The filing of the petition in apex court comes on the heels of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s statement that Orissa would continue to oppose the Polavaram project, owing to its concerns of submergence of tribal villages and forest land.

Polavaram is a major project on the Godavari River named after closet town in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. It is estimated to cost a sum of Rs. 9,265 crores ($4, 590 million). The Polavaram project, which is now proposed to be implemented with certain modification, was conceived more than 50 years back. Its design is outdated and is not fully taken into consideration. The damage is likely to be caused to the ecology, environment, wild life and human habitations and even to the changes that have taken place in the society over the years.

The central part of the Polavaram project is the barrage constructed straight across the Godavari River some 15km north of Rajmundhry in East Godavari district. The barrage will be constructed at a level of 150 feet (47 meters) and raise the water along the river stretch upstream in Godavari and several of its tributaries. The submersion will stretch along the Saberi River, a tributary to Godavari, up to the borders of Orissa and Chhattisgarh.

The centre said that the Polavaram project as conceived is a multipurpose scheme providing irrigation to 4.36 lakhs hectares, water supply to towns and village’s enroute and also would help in generating hydro power with an installed capacity of 960 MW. The project is envisaged for the construction of an earth-cum-rock fill dam. It fulfilled the criteria of being called as a national project and investment clearance was given by the planning commission in Feb 2009.

For this reason, Andhra Pradesh government didn’t want to give up the project and is trying to get the clearance by convincing Congress government in the centre thereby using political pressure.

The state ruling BJD complained that the central government is doing politics and giving importance to their party ruling at the state. It also highlights that the congress high command Mrs.Sonia Gandhi has reportedly assured Andhra Pradesh chief minister, K. Rosaiah to accord national status to the project which presumed that a bulk of the project cost would be borne by the centre. The centre will give 90% of the expenditure. But at that same time, centre gives importance to the Environment, wild life and voice of human habitats of submerged valley.

“A large number of people within Orissa will be affected if Polavaram project is allowed over the Godavari in Andhra Pradesh.” Mr. Naveen Patnaik claimed, adding that a huge chunk of forest land would also be submerged due to the project in the neighbouring state.

“In our petition in the Supreme Court, we have demanded the cancellation of the environment clearance given to the project by the Union Minister of Environment and forest (MoEF) to the Polavaram project. The state government has argued as to how the ministry could give the clearance when a case related to the project is already pending in the apex court. According to the state government estimates, the project was likely to submerge 2119.38 hectares of land in the Naxalite-affected tribal areas of Malkangiri district. The Orissa government has also accused the Central Water Commission (CWC) of not furnishing any details before approving the project.

The frequent problems of failure of embankments are not appreciated by CWC because of dearth of experts in the CWC who have adequate exposure to the field investigations, designs, construction, operation and maintenance of irrigation flood control works. The Bachawat Tribunal insisted that design of the Polavaram dam must be based not only on the interstate agreement of 1978 but also on the agreement of 1980 as far as practicable and it is clearly emphasized that if any changes are to be made in stipulated condition the consent of the other states must be obtained. Since the critical design criteria of Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) has changed from 36 lakhs in 1980 to 50 lakhs causes, there is a need for reformulation of the polavaram Dam in safe Barrages project with the consultation from states like Orissa and Chhattisgarh .

So,it's a right time for central govt. to make its goodwill,image and sustainable effort for their sustenance in the centre and to being a impartial and common people friendly govt., centre should take suitable steps concerning with other states.
So,