CM takes dam issue to Centre

Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, July 12: Union environment and forest minister Mr A Raja has reportedly assured chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik that he would ask the Andhra Pradesh government to redraw its Polavaram project proposal to meet the stipulations set by the High Court.

Official sources here said Mr Patnaik had met Mr Raja in New Delhi today and expressed concern over the environmental clearance accorded to the Polavaram project. The project will adversely affect 6,000 tribals of Malkangiri district in the state, he said.

The chief minister pointed out that over 100 hectares of forest land in Orissa will be submerged if the AP project was implemented. He also informed the Central minister that the Orissa High Court had directed the AP government to reformulate the project in such a manner that there is no submergence in Orissa.

Mr Patnaik also requested Mr Raja to clear the proposals submitted by the state government for regularisation of eligible pre-1980 forest encroachments. The state government had submitted proposals in respect of 17 districts, of which clearance has been received for regulararisation of encroachments made prior to 1972 in nine districts.

The chief minister requested Mr Raja to clear the balance proposals, in respect of the nine districts, viz, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Khurda, Nayagarh, Rayagada, Boudh, Kalahandi, Koraput and Kandhamal (ie, up to the cut off year of 1980) and also to clear all the proposals in respect of the remaining districts viz, Baragarh, Cuttack, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Jajpur, Nuapada and Sonepur.

Later the CM met the Union minister of mines, Mr Sis Ram Ola and apprised him of the investments taking place in the mineral-based industry sector in the state. The chief minister, emphasising the value addition principle for allocation of mines on preferential basis, sought the support in providing such raw material linkage to the mineral-based industry.
Mr Ola stated that some of these issues have been addressed in the Hoda Committee Report, which will be duly considered by his ministry.

The contentious issue of divestment of Nalco also figured in the discussions and the Central minister reportedly told Mr Patnaik that the proposal for disinvestment in Nalco has been clearly withdrawn. Mr Ola stated that some of these issues have been addressed in the Hoda Committee Report, which will be duly considered by his Ministry.

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