Odisha's BJD Raises Alarm Over Polavaram Project's Impact on Tribal Rights

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has ramped up its campaign against the Polavaram project, urging the central government to safeguard tribal rights amid concerns over legal violations and increased flood discharge capacity. Following meetings with key ministers, the BJD emphasized the need for transparency and adherence to laws governing the project. They raised alarms about the potential displacement of tribal communities in Malkangiri district and called for an independent assessment of the project's impact on local populations. With the recent allocation of funds for the project's completion, fears are mounting among tribal communities regarding threats to their ancestral lands and cultural heritage.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 21, 2025, 22:47 IST

Concerns Over Tribal Rights Amid Polavaram Project Developments

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has intensified its opposition to the Polavaram project, urging the central government to protect tribal rights that are reportedly being compromised due to alleged legal violations and increased flood discharge capacity of the irrigation initiative in Andhra Pradesh.

Following discussions with officials from the Central Water Commission and Union Minister for Jal Shakti CR Patil, a BJD delegation also met with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram in Delhi on Thursday.

Debi Prasad Mishra, senior vice-president of BJD and head of the delegation, stated, "The Union Government must fulfill its constitutional duties towards tribal communities and ensure their concerns are not overlooked in the name of progress. Development should not lead to displacement, deprivation, or loss of identity."

When questioned about the party's stance on development, Mishra clarified, "We are not against development. Our opposition is based on the project's non-compliance with legal standards. We demand transparency and adherence to the law."

He alleged that the project received approvals from the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 2005 and 2007, respectively, but the capacity was later increased without considering the repercussions for affected communities.

Mishra highlighted the delegation's serious concerns regarding the Polavaram Project's effects on tribal populations in Malkangiri district, noting that despite previous meetings and memoranda, including one with the MoEF&CC Secretary on December 4, 2024, there has been a lack of significant action from central authorities.

The delegation reminded the Union Ministers of a Supreme Court observation from September 6, 2022, emphasizing the need for environmental clearances, thorough backwater studies, and stakeholder consultations before further project execution.

BJD leader Priyabrata Majhi pointed out that the environmental clearance for the Polavaram Project was granted on October 25, 2005, and the Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) clearance was given by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on April 17, 2007.

Majhi explained, "These approvals were based on the original technical parameters of the irrigation project as defined by the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award. However, the project's scope was significantly expanded without obtaining new regulatory approvals, including revised environmental clearance and clearance from MoTA."

He noted that in 2011, the MoEF&CC recognized the project's expanded scope and issued a 'Stop Work order.' The Odisha government had also approached the Supreme Court in 2007 to challenge the irregularities and deviations made without consent from riparian states. However, construction was allowed to continue without adequate justification.

Consequently, the BJD is calling for an immediate, independent, and comprehensive backwater study to evaluate the project's true impact on Malkangiri and surrounding tribal regions by the MoEF&CC, along with a transparent review of the environmental and social implications, particularly for tribal populations in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.

Mishra added, "We also demand an impact assessment on the lives, livelihoods, and cultural heritage of tribal communities, including the Koya, Santal, Banjara, Durua, Bhumia, Bonda, Gadaba, Kotia, Didayi, Konda Dora, Paraja, Halwa, Kandha, Matia, and Konda Reddy, to be conducted by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs."

The BJD emphasized that the revised flood discharge capacity has increased from 36 lakh cusecs to 50 lakh cusecs without sufficient environmental reassessment, raising the risk of submergence and displacement in upstream areas, particularly in Odisha. The recent allocation of Rs 17,936 crores by the Centre for the project's completion has heightened fears among tribal communities facing threats to their ancestral lands, culture, and livelihoods.