Bhubaneswar, August 21: Stepping up its opposition to the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday urged the Centre to safeguard tribal rights, alleging violations of laws and warning that the project’s enhanced flood discharge capacity threatens vulnerable communities.
A day after meeting Central Water Commission (CWC) officials and Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, a BJD delegation held discussions with Union Environment, Forest & Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram in New Delhi.
“The Biju Janata Dal calls upon the Union Government to uphold constitutional responsibilities towards tribal communities and ensure their voices are not ignored in the name of development. Development cannot come at the cost of displacement, deprivation, and destruction of identity,” said BJD senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra, who led the delegation.
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