New Delhi, March 06: Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Friday said he would convene a meeting of Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Chhattisgarh to find a way forward for Polavaram irrigation and hydel project in Andhra Pradesh.
Replying to a short notice question in the Rajya Sabha, the minister said although the forest clearance was given to the project, there was a condition that there would be no submergence in Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
Ramesh said, “The Chhattisgarh CM has written to me against the forest and environment clearance for the Polavaram project on the grounds that there is going to be submergence in his state. There have also been questions raised by Orissa.” He asked BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu to persuade the Chhattisgarh CM to hold a public hearing on the project as per the law. “Without the protective embankments being built, the submergence will take place, a condition of clearance will be violated.
The condition for clearance is that there will be no submergence in the state of Chhattisgarh and Orissa,” he made it clear.
Responding to a query by MV Mysoora Reddy, Ramesh said, “If the government of AP decides to reduce the height of the dam that will obviate the need of protective embankments, which is the easier solution.”
–Agencies