Why the BJD is protesting against the Polavaram multipurpose project

Officials have called BJD’s move a “political stunt” as, according to them, 75% of the project has already been developed.

Here is a look at why BJD is protesting against the project, what the party did to stall the project when it was in power in Odisha, and which other states have raised concerns.

First, what is the Polavaram multipurpose project?

The project is an interstate project on river Godavari which was conceived in 1980 as a part of recommendations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT). On April 2, 1980, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha executed an agreement to clear construction of the project with a full reservoir level of 150 feet and with a spillway discharging capacity of 36 lakh cusecs.

The Andhra Pradesh State Reorganization Act (APRA), 2014, declared the project a national project, mandating that the Union government executes the project and obtains all requisite clearances as per environmental, forest, rehabilitation and resettlement norms.

In 2016, it was decided that the Centre would provide 100% of the remaining cost of the project’s irrigation component only for the period starting from April 1, 2014.

The location of Polavaram multipurpose project. (Credit: Google maps)

What are the concerns raised by the BJD?

The BJD alleges that significant changes have been made to the original design of the flood discharge capacity, increasing the capacity from 36 lakh cusecs to 50 lakh cusecs. The party claims that this was done without sufficient consideration of the backwater impact on the upstream states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh (earlier a part of Madhya Pradesh), which could affect populations of Malkangiri who are at risk of losing their lands and homes. Nearly 162 villages in Malkangiri are likely to be submerged due to the project.

The BJD also claims that the change in the flood discharge design would increase the maximum backwater level in Odisha to 174.22 feet — it should have been 150 feet as mentioned earlier to limit submergence levels in the state.

The party alleges that the CWC refused to conduct a fresh backwater study for the revised design, despite experts’ recommendations and concerns of the Odisha government. It has also cited various studies on estimates for submergence levels. For instance, a 2009 study conducted by Andhra Pradesh showed that a 50-lakh cusec flood discharge would cause submergence of up to 216 feet in Odisha. A 2019 report by IIT Roorkee estimated that a flood discharge of 58 lakh cusecs would result in submergence levels of 232.28 feet in Odisha.

What steps did the BJD take when it was in power?

The BJD ruled Odisha from 2000 to 2024, and the project has been a political issue for the party for a long time.

In 2007, the party lodged against the project by filing a suit in the Supreme Court. It had challenged the clearances granted by various Central agencies.

The party also filed various interlocutory applications in the apex court challenging the project. As the chief minister of the state, Naveen Patnaik wrote multiple letters to Manmohan Singh, who was the prime minister during the UPA regime, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging them to stop the project’s construction and conduct a fresh study about its impact on Odisha.

Why is the BJD making the project an issue now?

After losing power to the BJP in the state, the BJD has intensified its voice against the project considering it as a shot in the arm as it struggles to uphold its image of a regional party.

The party is also trying to corner the BJP by developing a narrative that the latter has been neglecting Odisha’s interest in helping other states such as Andhra Pradesh where it is in power with its allies.

Have other states also raised concerns against the project?

Besides Odisha, Chhattisgarh in 2011 and Telangana (after it bifurcated from Andhra Pradesh) in 2019 also challenged the project in the Supreme Court against the clearances granted to it and its impact in their respective states.

On April 11, 2011, the apex court nominated M Gopalakrishnan, an ex-member of CWC and other members of CWC to inspect the Polavaram dam and submit a report verifying whether the construction of the dam is by the GWDT order. After field visits, two reports were submitted in June 2011. In both reports, it was concluded that the planning of the Polavaram project and limited construction activities were in tune with the approved project and GWDT provisions. Subsequently, the court accordingly clubbed all cases together and the matter is sub-judice.