PPPA: Samajwadi Party alleges MCC violation by Cabinet

Alleging violation of Model Code of Conduct by the Union Cabinet for clearing a proposal to set up Polavaram Project Authority on May 1, the Odisha unit of Samajwadi Party today sought the Election Commission's intervention in the matter.
"The Union Cabinet's clearance of a proposal for formation of Polavaram Project Authority violets the MCC as the election process is on," SJP state president Rabi Behera said in a letter to the EC.
Besides, formation of such authority also undermines the Forest Right Act as well as it ignores the rights of tribals who are going to be displaced due to this mega Irrigation Project in Godabari River, Behera said.

Stating that the project also hurts the interests of Odisha and Chhatisgarh and a case was pending in the Supreme Court, Behera said "Under the circumstances, we request the EC to intervene in the matter."
Meanwhile, Samata Kranti Dal (SKD), a local political outfit, blamed the state's BJD government for not being able to stop the Polavaram Project which would severely affect the living of tribals in Malkangiri district.
"The state government did not make sincere efforts to stop the project," SKD president Braja K Tripathy said.

Local Congress MP Pradip Majhi, however, welcomed the Cabinet's decision of allowing formation of Polavaram Project Authority.

"The Polavaram Project should be through without affecting the interest of Odisha and its people," Majhi said.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had yesterday said the state government would take steps to ensure protection of Odisha's interest in the Polavaram Project proposed to be built in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.