Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will intensify the stir against the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh, which will submerge many tribal areas of Odisha.
BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has urged his party leaders and workers to fight for the rights of the tribal people of Odisha.
A delegation of party leaders Met Patnaik and briefed him on their recent visit to Delhi, where they raised concerns with the Centre regarding the project’s potential impacts.
Patnaik emphasized that the Polavaram project will submerge many areas of Malkangiri, greatly affecting the tribal communities. He advised the delegation to continue fighting for the rights of the people.
ପୋଲାଭରମ୍ ପ୍ରକଳ୍ପ ମାଲକାନଗିରିର ଅନେକ ଅଞ୍ଚଳକୁ ଜଳମଗ୍ନ କରିବା ସହ ଆଦିବାସୀ ଭାଇଭଉଣୀମାନେ ବହୁଳ ଭାବେ ପ୍ରଭାବିତ ହେବେ। ଏନେଇ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସରକାରଙ୍କୁ ଦାବିପତ୍ର ପ୍ରଦାନ କରିଥିବା @bjd_odisha ର ପ୍ରତିନିଧିମଣ୍ଡଳୀଙ୍କୁ ଭେଟି ଆଲୋଚନା କଲି। ଲୋକଙ୍କ ହକ୍ ପାଇଁ ଲଢ଼େଇ ଜାରି ରଖିବାକୁ ପରାମର୍ଶ ଦେଲି। #BJDWithOdisha pic.twitter.com/V6cfeXc41b
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) December 14, 2024
The delegation, led by former Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, met with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and senior officials from various ministries, including Tribal Affairs and Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The BJD delegation expressed concerns about the project’s impact on over 200 tribal villages in Malkangiri, which are likely to be submerged. The party will launch an agitation from January, demanding justice for the people of Malkangiri, particularly the tribals affected by the project, said BJD leader and a prominent tribal face Pradeep Majhi.
