BJD knocks door of MoTA over Polavaram project potentially threatening tribals in Odisha

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday (August 21, 2025) urged Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) to re-examine and revisit its statutory Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) clearance accorded to Polavaram Multipurpose Project.

Submitting a memorandum to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, the regional party said lives and livelihood of thousands of people in Malkangiri district were at stake and they were facing existential threat owing to Polavaram.

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The party moved MoTA, a day after high-level delegation from BJD comprising Rajya Sabha members and former Ministers met Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil and Chairman of the Central Water Commission (CWC) in New Delhi, expressing concerns over reported arbitrary expansion and unregulated implementation of the Polavaram Project.

The party demanded initiation of a comprehensive backwater study with regards to its potential impact of the project on thousands of tribal population in the States of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

Besides, the affected tribal communities of Malkangiri must be consulted and their concerns are incorporated into the R&R plans, in line with the consultation and legal obligation to protect tribal rights.

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MoTA was urged to facilitate a resolution that ensures Odisha was fairly compensated for any land or livelihoods lost owing to the project, and that the submergence was minimised to avoid displacement of vulnerable tribal groups.

“The impact study on lives, livelihood and culture of the tribals is imperative as majority of the population of tribal communities such as Koya, Santal, Banjara, Durua, Bhumia, Bonda, Gadaba, Didayi, Konda Dora, Paraja, Halwa, Kandha, Mata and Konda Reddy,” the BJD asserted.

The party said the project was originally intended for a flood discharge of 36 lakh cusecs with a backwater submergence of up to 174 ft.

“The project has since been revised to accommodate a flood discharge capacity of 50 lakh cusecs, a change that has not been adequately studied for backwater effects in the upstream States of Odisha, Chhatisgarh, and Telangana,” said the BJD which has been consistently raising the issue.

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“In the absence of adequate backwater studies and following a Supreme Court order (2022), which suggested that CWC lead discussions, it is apparent that Odisha has been ignored in the planning process. The primary concerns relate to the displacement of thousands of tribal people from Malkangiri District, who will lose their land and livelihood due to the submergence caused by the Polavaram Project,” it pointed out.

The party said there was absolute lack of transparency around execution of the project. According to the BJD, the Centre recently sanctioned  ₹17,936 crores for the project’s completion that escalated fears of displacement and ecological damage without Odisha’s consent or due consultation.