HYDERABAD: CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene and prevail upon the State Government to stop the work on Polavaram project and explore an alternative design which will not result in any submergence.

In a letter addressed to Dr. Singh, a copy of which was released to the press here on Friday, he referred to the injuries received by five tribals in the police firing in Bhadrachalam on January 29. "They were displaced people who were peacefully protesting against the construction of Polavaram project. A complete bandh was observed in the entire district on January 30 and the situation is still tense," he said.

Adamant attitude

Mr. Karat said the State Government's "adamant attitude" from the beginning on Polavaram had brought things to such a pass. "Eminent engineers advised alternative project designs which would not displace tribals in the area, with the same kind of benefits. But the Government has not considered them seriously," he said.

Pointing out that the project was set to cause one of the largest displacements, he said that 276 villages of nine mandals in Khammam, East and West Godavari districts will be affected. Two lakh tribals and thousands of Dalit and poor will be deprived of their homes and land .

Mr. Karat said that it was mandatory for Governments to ensure that projects undertaken in tribal areas must either avoid or minimise submergence.

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