Parliamentarians of Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Telangana today held a meeting here to oppose the bill to allow merging of some villages and mandals of Telangana with Seemandhra for execution of Polavaram Multi-Purpose Irrigation Project.
The meeting came in the wake of introduction of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2014, in Lok Sabha to deal with the resettlement and rehabilitation of those displaced by the Polavaram project.
“MPs from the three states belonging to BJD, Congress and TRS participated in a meeting to discuss the future course of action over the project,” BJD leader in the Lok Sabha Bhartruhari Mahtab said.
Pointing out that tribals in about 100 villages of Odisha would also be affected by the project, he alleged the transfer of the villages is being done without taking the consent of the tribals of Telangana.
“As per the AP Reorganisation Act, views of the tribals must be considered before transferring these villages from Telangana to residual Andra Pradesh. But the transfer is taking place without consulting them, which is mandatory according to the fifth schedule of the Act,” he said.
However, Mahtab suggested the design of the project could be altered to ensure that tribals are not affected in any region.
A senior TRS MP, who participated in the meeting, said his party was not opposed to the Polavaram Multi-Purpose Irrigation Project.
“The design of the project should be changed to ensure that tribals are not affected,” the MP, who wished to remain anonymous, said.
Source: Business Standard.com