BJD, BJP spar over Polavaram issue

Bhubaneswar: The ruling-BJD and BJP today engaged in mudslinging over the show cause notice issued to the Centre and Andhra Pradesh government in the Polavaram project issue.

While BJD alleged that the Centre was showing undue favours to Andhra Pradesh over Polavaram, BJP raised questions over State government’s delay of public hearing when the apex court had given six months period for the project.

“First of all the Centre removed the ‘stop work’ order. Later despite repeated letters to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, the Centre did not make its stand clear. This shows the Centre was showing favouritism to the Andhra Pradesh government,” said Sasmit Patra, BJD spokesperson.

On the other hand, BJP State vice president Samir Mohanty refuted the allegations and said that the situation would not have gone out of control had the State government shown alertness from the beginning.

“When the Supreme Court had asked the Odisha government to complete public hearing in six months then why the State did not present its side by hiring an advocate to fight for the case in the court. First the State should answer that,” Mohanty added.

On August 2, the Supreme Court had issued notices to the Central government and Andhra Pradesh over environmental clearances pertaining to the Polavaram project.

The apex court’s order came in response to the objections raised by the Odisha government on environment clearance granted to Polavaram.