SC has not asked to stop Central allocation to Polavaram: Venkaiah

Bhubaneswar: Amidst vehement protest by Odisha against the construction of the ongoing Polavaram multi-purpose dam project in Andhra Pradesh, Union minister of Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Information and Broadcasting Venkaiah Naidu today said the Supreme Court has not asked to stop Central allocation to the said project.

“The Centre has sanctioned financial assistance for construction of Polavaram project under the legal framework. Why the allocation issue is raised when the matter is sub judice? The apex court has not asked the Centre to stop the allocation. The Centre has respected the verdict of the apex court and will abide by its verdict on this issue”, he told media persons after attending the CSR Conclave 2016 organised by the leading Odia channel OTV at Mayfair Convention Centre here.

Reacting to the statement of Naidu, BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said Centre has taken a wrong decision by giving environment clearance to Polavaram project without taking the consent of Odisha.

“Apart from this, the statement of Naidu that the Centre has allocated financial assistance for construction of the said project does come under the legal framework”, he maintained.

Meanwhile, a meeting was held at Naveen Niwas, the residence of chief minister Naveen Patnaik to discuss about the Polavaram issue.

Talking to media persons after the meeting, party’s spokesperson Rabi Narayan Nanda said BJD would continue its fight on Polavaram issue. “The party will announce its action plan tomorrow”, he added.