Odisha’s Malkangiri may get submerged from Polavaram project, says BJD; urges CWC to stop work

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday petitioned the Central Water Commission (CWC) to halt construction on Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram project until fresh hydrological assessments and comprehensive stakeholder consultations are completed.

A delegation of the BJD warned that backwater effects could inundate swathes of Malkangiri district and displace vulnerable tribal communities. The demand is contained in a detailed memorandum submitted to the CWC, which cites unresolved safety, resettlement and design concerns despite repeated representations since 2024. 

Stop Work, Convene All Parties

Calling the repeated breaches of process “a matter of urgent public interest,” the BJD urged the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the CWC to issue a stop-work order on Polavaram.

It also requested it to conduct consultations with all stakeholder states in line with Supreme Court directions, and commission a fresh backwater study.

Why Is Odisha Alarmed?

At the heart of the objection is a change in Polavaram’s flood design parameters. The project, initially cleared for a design flood of 36 lakh cusecs in 1970, was revised in 2006 to 50 lakh cusecs.

The BJD says this was done without adequate consultation or a fresh backwater analysis for upstream states. The memorandum notes that the earlier Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal proceedings contemplated a maximum backwater level of R.L. 174.22 ft in Odisha at 36 lakh cusecs.

Later exercises, including a 2009 Government of Andhra Pradesh study and a 2019 IIT Roorkee assessment, estimate far higher upstream levels under larger floods, up to R.L. 216 ft at 50 lakh cusecs and R.L. 232.28 ft at a probable maximum flood (PMF) of 58 lakh cusecs.

The BJD argues that these figures, if realised, raise the prospect of significant submergence in Malkangiri. 

What BJD Wants The Centre To Do Now:

Beyond a stop-work directive and a new backwater study at the 50-lakh-cusec design flood, BJD has asked for a CWC-led chief ministers’ consultation. It also seeks confirmation on whether upstream backwater computations for Odisha’s rivers were ever carried out and clarity on spillway discharge capacity and reservoir operation rules for maximum flood events.