Polavaram project bill passed in LS

With the Centre promising to take all steps to rehabilitate and resettle people affected by the Polavaram project, Parliament on Monday passed a bill on setting up of the multi-purpose irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, passed by Lok Sabha last week, was approved by Rajya Sabha by voice vote after a debate.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, while replying to the debate on the issue in the Upper House, added that the government had not violated any constitutional norm while bringing the bill. The Polavaram project involves relocation of about 50,000 families, especially in the Khammam, East Godavari and West Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh, besides 2,000 families in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

The project has been accorded national-project status by the Centre. A dam across the Godavari River is under construction, and is located in the West Godavari and East Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. Its reservoir is expected to spread into parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.