Hyderabad: K. Chandrashekhar Rao, Telangana Chief Minister designate has called for a bandh on Thursday in the state as the centre has cleared an ordinance on Polavaram Project which aims to transfer the seven mandal’s of Khamman district to the Seemandhra state.
As NarendraModi’s Cabinet Minister, M. Venkaiah Naidu took charge yesterday as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. K. Shivaji, the convenor of Polavaram Irrigation Project SadhanaSamiti said that the he should make use of his office to bring an ordinance on the Polavaram Project.
ChandrashekharRao yesterday wrote a letter to President on this issue. He also declared a state-wide bandh in protest of this ordinance given to the Polavaram Dam Project.
- Polavaram dam Project.
It is a multi-purpose irrigation project which has been accorded national project status by the central government. This dam across the Godavari River is under construction located in West Godavari District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh state and its reservoir spreads in parts of Chhattisgarh and Orissa States also.
In 1980, then Chief Minister of Andhra PradeshT. Anjaiah laid the foundation stone for the project. However the project stayed idle until 2004 when the Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddyled government came to power. In 2004, the Government of Andhra Pradesh sanctioned 13.2 billion (US$220 million) for the project. Soon after, tenders were issued for the commensurate worth of services for the right canal of the project. For the 
left canal, another 13.53 billion were sanctioned by the state government.
This National River-Linking Project, which works under the aegis of the Indian Ministry of Water Resources, was designed to overcome the deficit in water in the country.
This project has been amidst several controversies. The people living here are mostly tribal and they are strongly opposing this project. Environment Activist MedhaPatkar too is opposing this project. Wikipedia quoted MedhaPatkar who said, “The project not only will displace several thousands of families, it will also submerge several archaeological sites, coal deposits, a wildlife sanctuary and several hectares of farm land.”
- Ground Report:
As a result of the bandh called by the TRS, the normal life in Telangana has been affected. Reports claimed that TRS activists protested outside the state-run RTC bus depots and thus the buses could not ply. Several buses have been cancelled and the vehicular movement isn’t that active in Telangana due to the bandh.
In Khamman, a complete bandh is being observed. Let’s not forget that majority of the people living here are tribal who are strongly against the centres decision on the project.
Shops and other business too have decided to keep their shutters down. Police officials have been deployed in the whole state.
Deccan Chronicles reported that in view of the bandh, the Board of Intermediate Education postponed advanced supplementary examinations of 11th and 12th standards scheduled on Thursday.
- Political Reactions:
The shutdown call was given by TelanganaRashtraSamithi (TRS) chief and Chief Minister-designate K Chandrasekhar Rao yesterday condemning what 
he termed as “injustice” to Telangana.
“Knowingly or unknowingly, wilfully or otherwise it is destroying the brand. Even Polavaram; that is not a new thing. Polavaram, even earlier Congress party has decided they have issued ordinance. At that time they didn’t write. All this things we will do. It is not good for the Telegu community. We have to bring Harmony among the community,” Chandrababu Naidu, TDP chief said while he was addressing the press.
K. Kavita, a TRS leader said, “So, we are earnestly requesting the honourable President that he should kindly consider and not promulgate the ordinance today. And if at all the cabinet completely manages to convince the honourable President, we do have a way, we are going to appeal in the Supreme Court.”
Tags: KCRao Polavaram Polavaram dam Polavaram Project Telangana
