Eight revenue villages, with an estimated 1,002 families in Malkangiri District of Odisha, are likely to be affected by submergence upon the completion of the Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP), Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, told the Rajya Sabha today while responding to a query from BJD MP Niranjan Bishi.
“According to the Socio Economic Survey of 2005, if Odisha does not opt for protective embankments with adequate drainage arrangements to safeguard lands and properties above the estimated level of +150 ft against submergence, then eight revenue villages, with approximately 1,002 families, will be impacted by the submergence resulting from the PIP,” stated Minister Choudhary.
He mentioned that the Polavaram irrigation project is being implemented in accordance with the interstate agreement among Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh (now Chhattisgarh), and Odisha dated April 2, 1980, and the Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal (GWDT) Award of 1980.
Odisha has the option to either construct protective embankments with adequate drainage to shield the lands and properties within their territory or to seek compensation for the rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced individuals from the affected areas, as per the project costs, the Union Minister explained.
Additionally, he noted that the project includes plans for a protective embankment with suitable drainage arrangements spanning a total of 30.20 km (12 km along the Sileru River and 18.20 km along the Sabari River) in Malkangiri district.
To address Odisha’s concerns, which primarily involve the backwater study of the Polavaram Irrigation Project, the extent of submergence in the state due to the project, and adherence to the Supreme Court’s directives, the Union Minister reported that multiple meetings had been held within the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Central Water Commission which included officials from stakeholder states such as Odisha, aimed to find common ground on resolving these issues.
