Why is BJD against the Polavaram project? | It explains

The story so far: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has recently stepped up its efforts to highlight the possible negative impacts of the Polavaram Dam project, which is being undertaken by the Andhra Pradesh government, on the tribal communities in Odisha’s Malkangiri district. A team comprising members of the BJD’s Rajya Sabha has sent a new memorandum to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change stating that the impact of water logging due to ‘unilateral’ changes in construction of the project has not been evaluated.

What is the status of the project?

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has vowed to complete the Polavaram Project on the Godavari River by 2027 as the international dispute involving mainly Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh has entered a critical phase. The Union Government has confirmed R15,000 million in this year’s budget to complete this project.

However, the BJD has alleged that the CWC has refused to conduct a revised post-flood water survey of the project, despite expert recommendations and the Odisha Government’s concerns about the safety of tribals. The BJD asserted that different studies, including those of the Andhra Pradesh Government and the CWC, showed different estimates of submergence rates. “A backwater study conducted by AP in 2009 shows that a 50-lakh cusec flood will cause water inundation of up to 216 feet in Odisha, far exceeding the initially agreed maximum level of 174.22 feet. Report from IIT Roorkee in 2019 also estimates that 58 lakh cusecs of flood will lead to Reservoir Level of meters 232.28 in Odisha,” he said.

How did you start the job?

The Polavaram irrigation project on the Godavari river was conceived as part of the recommendations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT). Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha entered into an agreement on April 2, 1980, in which the project was to be carried out by Andhra Pradesh. In accordance with 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 Jal Shakti Department said that the height of the concrete dam of the Polavaram Project, measured from the deepest level of the foundation (-18.50m) to the top of the bridge is 72.60 meters. The initial project cost was Rs 10,151.04 crore in 2005-06 which has reached Rs 55,548.87 crore in 2019.

What are the concerns?

Although no comprehensive study has been done on the submergence of Malkangiri district due to the Polavaram project, the Odisha state government in 2016 submitted to the NCST that the project will submerge 7,656 hectares of land, including forest, and displace more than 6,800 people including tribals of 5,916 in Malkangiri.

The Jal Shakti Department said that according to the Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Department, by providing remedial measures such as constructing 30 km long protective embankments along the Sileru and Sabari rivers in Odisha, and 29.12 km along the Sabari river in Chhattisgarh, submergence in Odisha and Chhattisgarh can be completely avoided. In August this year, the Ministry asked the State Pollution Control Boards in Odisha and Chhattisgarh to conduct public hearings for the construction of protective embankments without losing much time as the project is at 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 doubts about the high defensive wall saying it was not possible. “Construction of wall requires diversion of forest and causes floods in Odisha region.”