The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha has expressed concern over the potential impact of Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram project on the tribal communities of Malkangiri district. The party’s “fact-finding” team, led by former minister Atanu S Nayak, reported to BJD president Naveen Patnaik that the recent budgetary allocation by the central government and the commitment to complete the project by February 2026 has heightened fears among the local tribal population.
The team visited the Motu and Padia tehsils, assessing the likely effects of the project on the area. Their report highlighted that the residents of around 200 villages in these blocks are worried about threats to their lives, livelihoods, and cultural heritage due to the potential submergence caused by the project.
The Polavaram project, under development on the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh’s Eluru district, aims to irrigate over 430,000 hectares of land, generate 960 MW of hydropower, and supply drinking water to nearly 3 million people across 611 villages. Additionally, the project plans to divert 80 TMC of water to the Krishna River basin.