Odisha legislators to meet Modi to oppose Polavaram project

Bhubaneswar: The house committee of Odisha assembly intends to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to register their opposition to the construction of Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh.

The multi-purpose project will submerge several villages in Odisha's Malkangiri district.

"The panel headed by speaker has sought an appointment with the Prime Minister between Dec 27 and Jan 18. After getting a confirmed date, a discussion will be held with BJP and Congress members of the house committee," said Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma.

The minister is a member of the house committee.

He said another meeting of the house committee would be held to finalise the memorandum to be submitted to the Prime Minister, opposing the project.

Notably, the ruling BJD MPs of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha already met Modi last week to discuss the issue. 

Earlier, the Congress members resigned from the house committee while BJP members boycotted its meeting to protest against the ruling BJD's violation of political unity on the issue.

The BJD had taken out a rally and submitted a memorandum to Governor addressed to the President, going against an earlier decision that all parties would be united in the house committee's raising of the issue with the Prime Minister.