Soz calls CMs meeting on Sep 26 in Delhi on Polavaram issue

New Delhi, Aug 2 (UNI) Water Resources Minister Saif-ud-din Soz today said in the Lok Sabha he has convened a meeting of the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Chhattisgarh here on September 26 to resolve the Polavaram reservoir issue, and assured that Orissa will be fully compensated in accordance with the Godavari Tribunal Award.

However, BJD leaders from Orissa-- Arjun Charan Sethi, Bhartruhari Mahtab and Braja Kishore Tripathy-- who had moved the calling attention motion on the issue led their party members out in protest, saying the Minister had failed to give a satisfactory reply why environmental clearance was given to the project when it was still being appraised by the Central Water Commission.

At one point, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee was so much annoyed by continual interruptions by Orissa members to the Minister's reply that he begged Karabela Swain (BJP) to take his seat. ''With folded hands, I ask you to take your seat.'' Before the BJD members staged a walk-out, Mr Soz said there was no question of constructing the project to FRL 180 ft.

Any level above FRL 150 ft will have to be with CWC approval, and compensation will be fully paid for land and property likely to be submerged above that level due to all effects, including backwater effect, he said.

''I assure the House that Orissa will not be at the receiving end. Everything will be on the verdict of the Godavari Tribunal.'' Mr Soz said the Andhra Pradesh government had also given assurance that it will abide by the Godavari Award.

He said the project was under appraisal by the CWC and investment clearance from the Planning Commission had not been granted to it.

He said it was not his Ministry but the Ministry of Environment and Forest which had given the environment clearance.

He, however, added that clearance from the Tribal Affairs Ministry was yet to be obtained by the project authorities.

He said the CMs meeting was scheduled to be held this month, but owing to the Parliament Session it, had been postponed to September 26.

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