BJD Raises Polavaram Issue in Assembly

Bhubaneswar: Opposition Biju Janata Dal on Thursday cornered the state government in the Assembly on the issue of controversial Polavaram Dam project, which is being developed in the neighboring Andhra Pradesh.

As soon as the House began for Question Hour, the BJD MLAs had proposed a discussion on the Polavaram project. However, their notice was rejected by Speaker Surama Padhy.

The BJD legislators rushed to the well and staged a protest. They accused the BJP of sacrificing the interest of Odisha for the sake of its political gains in Andhra Pradesh.

BJD’s deputy leader in the Assembly Prasanna Acharya said that Odisha will be severely affected after completion of the Polavaram project.

“Andhra Pradesh government’s unilateral and forceful construction of Polavaram project has become intolerable for Odisha. Therefore, we demand a discussion on the matter,” he said.

In view of the uproar in the House, the Speaker first adjourned the proceeding for about an hour till 11.30 am and later till 12.15 pm.

On the other hand, the Congress MLAs wearing black badges sat on dharna near the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Assembly premises protesting the suspension of its senior member Taraprasad Bahinipati.