Polavaram: AP Urges Chhattisgarh to Propose Solutions
Raipur | Correspondent: Andhra Pradesh has proposed that Odisha and Chhattisgarh offer solutions to resolve the Polavaram backwaters issue.
A meeting, convened by the Central Water Commission (CWC), is scheduled for August 28 in New Delhi.
It will include Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh to discuss the potential impact of backwaters from the Polavaram Dam on these states.
Andhra Pradesh plans to construct the Polavaram Dam at a height of 45.72 meters, which will create a large reservoir.
However, Odisha and Chhattisgarh have raised concerns about the potential submergence of low-lying areas in their territories.
Last year, the CWC conducted a study on the issue and recommended that Andhra Pradesh follow specific designs for the project.
Andhra Pradesh’s water resources officials assert that they are strictly following these guidelines and are aware of the impact on neighboring states. They have also proposed two options for Odisha to mitigate the issue.
The first option involves Andhra Pradesh constructing flood banks to prevent the submergence of vulnerable areas in Odisha, while the second option offers compensation for any submerged areas.
Despite these proposals, Andhra Pradesh officials note that Odisha has yet to respond.
They point out that Odisha has not held a public hearing on the matter, which would help in developing a resolution.
Andhra Pradesh hopes that once Odisha responds, Chhattisgarh will also present its proposals.
As for Telangana, Andhra Pradesh attributes its concerns about submergence to a natural occurrence, where smaller streams fail to drain into the Godavari River during floods due to the river’s rising water levels.
Andhra Pradesh believes that once the river’s water level recedes, the streams will naturally flow into the river, resolving the issue.
Polavaram Project Chief Engineer Narasimha Murthy stated that Andhra Pradesh is adhering to the CWC’s guidelines for the construction and impact assessment of the Polavaram project. It is now up to Odisha and Chhattisgarh to put forward their proposals to address the issue.
Dorla tribals in danger due to Polavaram
Thousands of villagers in the Konta block of Sukma district in Bastar are deeply concerned about the Polavaram Indira Sagar Dam being constructed in Andhra Pradesh. Tribal communities fear that the dam could lead to widespread destruction, displacing thousands of tribals in Chhattisgarh.
Once completed, the dam, which is being built on the Godavari River, will flood 18 gram panchayats in Konta, including villages like Banjammuda, Metagunda, Pedakisoli, Asirgunda, Injaram, Fandigunda, Dhodra, Konta, and Venkatpuram.
Even now, with the seasonal rains, these villages are already experiencing flooding due to the dam’s backwaters.
It is estimated that over 40,000 people in the area will be forced to abandon their homes and land, facing displacement.
However, this population estimate is outdated, and it is feared that the actual number of affected individuals could be more than double the government’s projections.
This region is home to the largest population of Dorla tribe in Chhattisgarh.
Local activists and officials warn that the dam will not only displace these tribals but also threaten their culture and way of life, which could be lost forever.
According to a government estimate from 2001, more than 371 villages and hamlets, along with approximately 4,000 hectares of forest land across Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, will be submerged by the dam.
The government also predicts that 1,06,006 families will be displaced, of which 53.3 percent—or 56,504—are tribal families. The total number of tribals expected to be displaced is 1,64,752.
