Soz announces joint survey of Polavaram in 10 days

Hyderabad, Oct 19 (UNI) Announcing a joint survey of the Polavaram project site in Andhra Pradesh by experts from Chhattisgarh and Orissa within the next ten days, Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz today blamed Andhra Pradesh's ''unilateral'' decision to move the Supreme Court against Maharashtra over the Bobbili project in the upper riparian state.

Assuring Chhattisgarh and Orissa that their riparian rights would be protected as per the Godavari award to raise embankment for protecting their people, the Union Minister told reporters here they were free to inspect the project site and thrash out all issues relating to the Polavaram project with Andhra Pradesh.

''I tried to iron out a solution between Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh on the Bobbili project when the latter unilaterally decided to move the Supreme Court,'' In fact, Maharashtra wanted to resolve the issue amicably through talks, he added.

The Supreme Court as also various tribunals had made it clear that States were sovereign in usage of water. ''Let us see what happens (on the issue),'' he added.

It may be noted that the Polavaram project across the Godavari is Embroiled in an inter-state controversy with the above neighbouring states and over one lakh tribals, who were likely to be displaced, opposing it.

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