Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court today imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the Central government for not responding to its previous notice with regard to a petition filed by the Odisha government challenging national project status to Polavaram project.
The apex court in its order has directed the Centre to make Telangana and Chhattisgarh parties in the case and has sought a reply in this connection within four weeks.
Talking to OTV, Odisha government counsel Radheshyam Jena said, "The Centre today sought time to file the reply and so the court was pleased to allow four weeks time subject to payment of Rs 20,000 which will be deposited with the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee."
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The Odisha government has been opposing the Polavaram project apprehending many villages of Malkangiri district will get submerged due to the multi-purpose irrigation project.
In spite of Odisha's concerns, the erstwhile UPA government had declared Polavaram as 'national project.' Later, after the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act came into force in 2014, Odisha opposed section 90 of the act under which the project was accorded national project status. Later the NDA also announced to provide financial assistance for completion of the multi-purpose project.