"Odisha does not need Polavaram project. The state also does not require water from the AP project. Our water requirement has already been met by the Kolab project. If at all we require water, those can be directly drawn from river Saberi through Mega Lift Irrigation project," Water Resource Secretary S C Mohapatra told reporters here.
Mohapatra was replying a question on the Andhra Pradesh government's offer of five TMC (thousand million cubic feet) water from Polavaram multi-purpose project. "The state government has already sanctioned the Mega Lift Irrigation project. We can use it if there is any deficit of water for irrigation," he said.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Reddy in a recent statement had said that Odisha's loss because of Polavaram project was "very small" and the gain "much more".
While Odisha would lose around 2000 acres (due to submergence for Polavaram project), it would get five TMC water, Reddy had said, adding that to store 5 TMC water 4000 to 5000 acres of land and Rs 600 to Rs 700 crore would be required. But Odisha would benefit as the storage would be done in Andhra, Reddy had said.
Meanwhile, Odisha government is yet to take a decision on Andhra Pradesh's proposal of settling the issue through discussion.
"We have sought some details about Polavaram project from Andhra government. We should know what exactly they want to discuss with us," Mohapatra said, adding that a case was pending in the Supreme Court in this regard. Odisha government had gone to the apex court challenging the Rs 16,000 crore Polavaram project.