Congress delegation meets Sonia Gandhi on Polavaram project issue

New Delhi, Feb 11: Concerned over reported move to merge over a 100 villages in Bhadrachalam sub-division with Seemandhra for

, a delegation of

Congress leaders on Tuesday met party supremo

to raise issues related to affected

in the area.

The delegation, led by Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment P Balram Naik, is believed to have sought relief and rehabilitation package for the affected tribals in 130 villages, likely to be submerged by the Project.

"We have represented our apprehensions relating to submerging areas of Bhadrachalam, which is affecting 2.5 lakh tribals," AICC member and Andhra Pradesh MLC P Sudhakarr Reddy told PTI.

Stressing that they were not against the Polavaram Project, he said their concerns were about the tribal people, who would have to be relocated for the project.

"In principle, we are not against the Polavaram project. But, there should be some relief and rehabilitation measures for the affected tribal communities," Reddy said.

The Polavaram Irrigation Project has sparked controversy, in the light a reported move by the Centre to transfer several villages in Bhadrachalam sub-division of Khammam district with Seemandhra for the purpose.

While Telangana leaders claim that Bhadrachalam is part and parcel of their region, Seemandhra leaders emphasis the need to transfer village, expected to be submerged by Polavaram Project.

Later, the delegation also met Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and AICC general secretary, Digvijay Singh, who is also the in-charge of party in Andhra Pradesh.

PTI