BJD Urges Central Government to Safeguard Tribal Rights Amid Polavaram Project Concerns

BJD Delegation Advocates for Tribal Rights

Bhubaneswar: A delegation from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) met with Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav and Jual Oram in New Delhi on Thursday, calling for immediate action to safeguard tribal rights in the Malkangiri district and raising alarms about the Polavaram Project.

The group comprised notable figures such as BJD senior vice president Debi Prasad Mishra, MP Manas Ranjan Mangaraj, MP Subhashish Khuntia, among other key leaders.

They expressed strong opposition to the risks of submergence posed by the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh, highlighting that previous appeals and discussions with the central government have not led to meaningful outcomes.

Referencing a Supreme Court ruling from 2022, which emphasized the need for environmental clearances, backwater studies, and consultations with stakeholders, the BJD accused the central government of neglecting these judicial mandates.

The party pointed out that although environmental and resettlement clearances were issued in 2005 and 2007, the project has been expanded without obtaining new approvals.

Among their primary requests were an independent backwater study, a thorough evaluation of the environmental and social repercussions on Malkangiri and adjacent tribal regions, and a specific impact assessment for tribal communities including the Koya, Bonda, Gadaba, and Kandha. The delegation cautioned that the increased flood discharge capacity of 50 lakh cusecs, coupled with the Centre's recent allocation of ₹17,936 crore for project completion, poses a heightened risk of displacement for Odisha's tribal population. They asserted, "Development should not come at the expense of displacement and cultural erosion," pledging to persist in their advocacy across all platforms.