An expert technical committee constituted by the Orissa government to look into the irregularities in implementation of the controversial Polavaram project, has submitted a written memorandum to the Supreme Court appointed Gopalkrishnan committee.
The memorandum submitted jointly by the expert teams of Orissa and Chhattisgarh, has raised objections over the manner of implementation of the Polavaram project before the apex court appointed committee.
The expert teams of the two states which had visited the site of the project on May 23-24 have alleged that the project design has been changed. Moreover, the water flow from the dam to be constructed for the project which was originally stipulated at 36 lakh cusecs has been raised to 50 lakh cusecs and the committee has observed that this is objectionable.
The expert teams have also objected to the construction of embankments suggested by the Andhra Pradesh government, stating that this is not feasible as it would lead to submergence of many villages, said Suresh C Mohapatra, principal secretary (water resources), Orissa government.
Besides, the expert teams have pointed out that no public hearing has been conducted before acquiring land for the Polavaram project.
In the memorandum, we have apprised the apex court appointed committee of the violations of Environment Protection Act and Forest Rights Act (FRA), said Mohapatra. The expert team of Orissa is headed by Harish Behera, engineer-in-chief (irrigation).
Last month, the Supreme Court had refused to grant stay on Polavaram dam construction.
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"In the current circumstances, it would be difficult for us to stay the construction of Polavaram dam at this state", a two-member bench of the Supreme Court consisting of Justice Mukundakam Sharma and Justice A R Dave had said, refusing to entertain Orissa's plea.
The apex court had also directed former member of the Central Water Commission (CWC) M Gopalakrishnan to inspect the Polavaram project along with CWC and submit separate reports to the apex court by July 19, the next date of hearing.
The bench's remark had come in response to a plea by senior counsel Raju Ramachandran, appearing for Orissa, who insisted that the the work should be stopped pending submission of the expert panel's report.
The Orissa government had approached the Supreme Court of India on September 4 last year, challenging the Centre's decision to give final environmental clearance for the Polavaram project.
In its suit, Orissa had sought a declaration that Andhra Pradesh had no right or entitlement to undertake or proceed with the Polavaram project on the Godavari river. It had also stated that embankments were not permanent solutions to effectively contain submergence during floods.
As per the estimates of the state government, the project was likely to submerge 2119.38 hectares of land in Naxalite-affected tribal areas of Malkangiri.