The story so far: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has recently intensified its efforts to highlight the potential adverse impacts of the Polavaram Dam project, undertaken by the Andhra Pradesh government, on the tribal communities in Odisha’s Malkangiri district. A delegation comprising BJD’s Rajya Sabha members submitted a fresh memorandum to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change stating that the impact of submergence due to ‘unilateral’ change in the design of the project has not yet been studied.
What is the status of the project?
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has vowed to complete the Polavaram Project on River Godavari by 2027 as the interstate dispute involving mainly Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh has entered a crucial phase. The Union government has assured ₹15,000 crore in this year’s budget for the completion of the project.
However, the BJD has alleged that the CWC had refused to conduct a backwater study for the revised design flood, despite the recommendations of experts and the Odisha Government’s concerns regarding the safety of tribal populations. The BJD argued that various studies, including those by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and CWC, have shown different estimates for submergence levels. “A backwater study by AP in 2009 indicates that 50-lakh cusec flood will cause submergence up to 216 feet in Odisha, far exceeding the originally agreed maximum level of 174.22 feet. A report from IIT Roorkee in 2019 further estimates that a flood of 58 lakh cusecs would result in submergence levels of Reservoir Level of 232.28 feet in Odisha,” it said.
How did the project start?
The Polavaram Irrigation Project on the river Godavari was conceived as a part of the recommendations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT). Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha had entered into an agreement dated April 2, 1980, where the project was to be executed by Andhra Pradesh. As per the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganization Act (APRA), 2014, the Polavaram Irrigation Project was declared as a national project.
In response to an RTI query, the Ministry of Jal Shakti said that the maximum height of the concrete dam of Polavaram Project, measured from the deepest foundation level (-18.50m) to the top of bridge is 72.60 metre. The initial project cost was ₹10,151.04 crore in 2005-06 which reached ₹55,548.87 crore in 2019.
What are the concerns?
Though no comprehensive study has been carried out with regards to the likely submergence of the Malkangiri district by backwaters due to the Polavaram project, the Odisha State government in the year 2016 submitted to the NCST that the project was going to submerge 7,656 hectares of land, including forestland, and displace more than 6,800 people including 5,916 tribals in Malkangiri.
The Ministry of Jal Shakti said that as per the Water Resource Department of Andhra Pradesh, by providing remedial measures such as constructing protective embankments for a length of 30 kms along Sileru and Sabari River in Odisha, and 29.12 km along Sabari River in Chhattisgarh, the submergence in both Odisha and Chhattisgarh could be avoided completely. In August this year, the Ministry had asked the State Pollution Control Boards of Odisha and Chhattisgarh to conduct a public hearing for the construction of protective embankments without further loss of time as the project is in an advanced stage of construction. The Odisha State Pollution Control Board is yet to hold a public hearing. The Odisha government had earlier expressed its reservation over the high protective embankment saying it was not feasible. “The construction of an embankment requires the diversion of forestland and creates flooding in Odisha territory.”
Published – December 16, 2024 08:30 am IST
