Polavaram row: BJD targets Odisha govt over ‘neglect of Malkangiri tribals’, BJP counters

Political temperature in Odisha Capital rose once again over Polavaram project on Friday, as the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) launched a sharp attack on BJP-led government through a press conference. The Opposition party accused the BJP of failing to protect the interests of tribal communities in Malkangiri district.

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

According to BJD, the Polavaram project originally had the capacity to release 36 lakh cusecs of floodwater, which has been increased to 50 lakh cusecs by Andhra Pradesh government. The party alleged that while the previous BJD-led government had opposed this move, the current “double-engine” BJP government has now remained silent, raising serious concerns about its commitment to Odisha’s interests.

“Construction work is being carried out (by the Andhra government), thereby hampering the interests of Odisha and its people in riparian areas. The ‘double-engine’ government, which had assured that the matter would be resolved through an inter-state discussion by December last year, has now become completely silent over Polavaram issue,” senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra said.

Reacting to the allegations, BJP MP Pradeep Purohit countered that when decisive action was required, the then BJD-government indulged in politics instead of taking firm decisions. He further alleged that the BJD is now opposing the issue only in namesake, merely to play the role of an Opposition party.

“At a time when the (previous BJD-led) Government should have taken bold decisions, the government rather indulged in politics,” the BJP MP expressed.

The renewed political sparring has brought the Polavaram project back into sharp focus, with both parties trading blame over responsibility and accountability.