Orissa's absence in Polavaram meeting irresponsible-Patnaik

Bhubaneswar, Oct 9 (UNI) Orissa Assembly leader of Opposition J B Pattnaik today dubbed ''Irresponsible and highly condemnable''the state government's decision to boycott the meeting convened by the Union Water Resource Minister on Polavaram Project over Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh.

Talking to mediaperson here, Mr Pattnaik said Orissa government should have attended the meeting to put forth its demand before the Union Water Resource Minister, Saifuddin Soz.

He said the Union Minister had invited the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa to sort out the problems arising out of the construction of Polavaram Project being undertaken by Andhra Pradesh.

While Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Chhatisgarh Water Resource Minister and other representatives attended the meeting, Orissa stayed away without assigning any reason, Mr Pattnaik said adding that such ''an action of the Orissa government in a federal system was highly condemnable''.

The former Chief Minister alleged that the Orissa government did not have the necessary information on the Polavaram project and is making a fuss without verifying the facts from the Andhra Pradesh government.

He said Orissa government should honour the 1978 agreement with the Andhra Pradesh government to keep the height of the Polavaram Dam project to a maximum of150 feet.

If the height of the Dam was increased beyond 150 feet then it must be opposed tooth and nail by all as it would have a deleterious effect on the vast tract of Malkangiri district in the state.

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