Orissa CM Naveen Patnaik writes to Centre, opposing Polavaram Project

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has taken a strong exception to the Centre's move of granting national project status to the controversial Polavaram Irrigation Project and has written a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to look into the issue. The Polavaram Irrigation Project has been a bone of contention between Orissa and Andhra Pradesh and the matter is sub judice now.

The Polavaram Irrigation Project is being undertaken by Andhra Pradesh on the river Godavari, while Orissa has vociferously opposed it, saying a huge number tribal people and many villages in Malkangiri district will be affected by the project.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in his letter, wondered how the Centre showed hurry to grant the national project status to Polavaram, when the matter was sub judice. He criticised the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre for ignoring Orissa's cause while doing so.