Odisha House panel to meet PM on Polavaram project

The House Committee of the Odisha Legislative Assembly today decided to draw attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and request him to ensure that interest of people to be affected due to construction of the Polavaram project be protected.
The committee comprising members from different political parties and headed by Speaker Niranjan Pujari, on its first meeting here resolved to fight for the interest of the people.
"The House committee has decided that it would meet the Prime Minister and submit a memorandum urging him to safeguard the interest of the state. Since it would submerge some parts of the Malkangiri district, we will continue our protest against the project," Manas Madkami, an MLA from Malkangiri district, told reporters here.

"We have asked the secretary of the water resources department to furnish detail information on the Polavaram project and its likely impact on the state. We should be aware of the height and other parameter of the project," said Congress Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati.
Bahinipati said the House panel would seek appointment from the Prime Minister next week.
The state government has, in the meanwhile, filed three cases in the Supreme Court against construction of the Polavaram project.