Orissa CM asks for Centre's intervention, reiterates demand for public hearing
Continuing its unrelenting protest over the Polavaram multipurpose project, the Orissa government has sent out a scathing reply to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah's remarks, who on Wednesday, had ruled out the necessity of public hearings for the project.
Rosaiah had categorically stated that there was no need for conducting public hearings in Orissa and Chhattisgarh as adequate measures had been taken to prevent submergence of villages in the two states.
His remarks have drawn flak from the Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who has reiterated his demand for holding public hearings on the Polavaram project.
Reacting to Rosaiah's comments, Patnaik said that the Centre would have to take steps to ensure that public hearings were conducted for the Polavaram project.
"Hearings should be strictly monitored. Our concerns are the protection of tribals, particularly those in in Malkangiri district. They must not suffer due to the project. They (Andhra Pradesh government) may be taking measures to prevent submergence of villages but public hearings must be conducted.", he said.
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The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) on November 2, had asked the Andhra Pradesh government to specify the reasons for not holding public hearings for the project in Orissa and Chattisgarh even after one and a half years of issue of the letter.
A letter dated March 9 had been issued by the ministry last year wherein the project proponent was requested to undertake public hearings as per the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification of 2006.
The MoEF in its letter to Shailendra Kumar Joshi, principal secretary (projects), irrigation department, Andhra Pradesh government, was asked to respond within 7-10 days regarding the reasons for not holding public hearings and also sought information on construction status of the dam and other related works.
The ministry has questioned as to why a showcause notice should not be issued formally under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act as work on the project is continuing without getting the environment clearance for additional components like construction of embankments, drainage sluices and pumping arrangements.
The project involved construction of embankments on rivers Saberi and Sileru to avoid land submergence in Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
The Orissa government had approached the Supreme Court of India on September 4 opposing the Centre's decision to give environmental clearance for the project.
The apex court has asked the Government of India to file its response within a month. The order was given by a two-member bench of the Supreme Court, consisting of Justice Mukundakam Sharma and Justice A R Dave.
In its suit, Orissa has sought a declaration that Andhra Pradesh had no right or entitlement to undertake or proceed with the Polavaram project on the Godavari river.
It has also stated that embankments were not permanent solutions to effectively contain submergence during floods.