Chhattisgarh opposes Polavaram project on Godawari river

Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, Nov 11 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh government has agreed for re-survey of the area in Dantewada district which would be submerged by the Polavaram inter-state multipurpose project on the Godawari river, following protest by the Chhattisgarh government.

It is alleged Andhra Pradesh government had not taken Chhattisgarh government into confidence before planning and execution of the Rs 884.44 crore project.

The Andhra government had already handed over Rs 54 lakh to the Executive Engineer of Water Resources department at Dantewada for the re-survey ordered by the high-powered committee for inter-state projects, according to Indrawati Project Superintending Engineer G M Sheikh.

Polavaram project is proposed to be set up on the Godawari river, 42 km upstream of the Godawari barrage in Godawari district. The 2160 metre long dam's total catchment area is 3,06,643 sq km. while 63,691 hectare revenue and forest land in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa is estimated to come under submergence.

Andhra Pradesh and undivided Madhya Pradesh had entered into an agreement on August 7, 1978 for the project, aimed at irrigation, power generation and augmentation of water in the Krishna basin.

Without taking the then Madhya Pradesh government into confidence, Andhra Pradesh had surveyed the area likely to be submerged and prepared a project report.

The project report indicated that 2,717 people of 680 families, 42 pucca and 300 'kutcha' houses in Konta tahsil would be affected.

About 2,398 hectare area in Konta tahsil spread over in Metawada, Asirguda, Buhdaguda, Banjamguda, Jharpaguda, Injram, Phandiguda, Chikkorigudam, Paddamgudam, Phasgudam, Dodra, Umarjaguda and Konta would be submerged.

When the Andhra government started the construction work early this year, the Chhattisgarh government lodged its protest with the Centre and the Godawari Water Disputes Tribunal and said it will dissociate Chhattisgarh from the project terming the report prepared by Andhra as bogus.

Mr Sheikh said the actual affected area would be known only after the re-survey.

Meanwhile, naxalites also took out a rally in Andhra Pradesh to oppose the dam, while they launched an awareness campaign in Bastar against the project.

UNI XC-SP PA HS1351