NEW DELHI: Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz on Wednesday said that the Centre had convened a meeting of the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa on September 26 to discuss and resolve the Polavaram Multipurpose Project issue.

Replying to a calling attention motion in the Lok Sabha on the situation arising from the reported violation of different awards given by the water dispute tribunals, Mr. Soz told the House that the project was under appraisal by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and no investment clearance from the Planning Commission had been granted to the same. The clearance from the Environment and Forests Ministry had been granted though the Ministry of Tribal Affairs was yet to clear the project. Mr. Soz assured Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MPs, who initiated the motion, that there would be no change in the Inter-State Agreement of 1980 among the basin States without the consent of the States concerned. The agreement provides for either constructing and maintaining protective embankment in Orissa and Chhattisgarh or paying compensation for land and property likely to be affected above the agreed FRL of 150 ft due to backwater effects. "Orissa will not be at the receiving end and oustees are also our concern," the Minister said. However, not satisfied with the Minister's answer, the BJD members walked out of the House in protest.

A violation: Sethi

Initiating the discussion, Arjun Charan Sethi pointed out that the Andhra Pradesh Government had decided to raise the FRL to 180 ft that would submerge a number of tribal villages in Orissa. This was a violation of the Godavari Tribunal Award. He said the Orissa Government had sought details of the proposed increase of the dam height from Andhra Pradesh but no information had been provided to it. He also wanted to know how the Environment and Forests Ministry cleared the project in just 15 days when environmentalists had opposed it.

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