Bhubaneswar/New Delhi, May 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to preside over a high-level meeting on May 28 with the Chief Ministers of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh to discuss the much-debated Polavaram Project.

The mega infrastructure initiative, deemed the "lifeline" of Andhra Pradesh, has faced resistance from neighbouring states over concerns regarding land submergence and displacement.

Despite numerous deliberations among top officials, no concrete resolution has been achieved. With petitions from Odisha, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh pending in the Supreme Court, the issue remains a point of contention.

While Andhra Pradesh had proposed the construction of a protective embankment for potentially affected villages, Odisha and Chhattisgarh raised strong objections over land acquisition and rehabilitation concerns.

The Union Government had declared Polavaram a national project as part of the commitments made during Andhra Pradesh's bifurcation. Finding an amicable solution that addresses environmental and displacement concerns now falls under the Centre’s responsibility, given the urgency of completing the project within the stipulated timeframe.

This marks PM Modi’s first direct consultation with all four states’ Chief Ministers, indicating the government’s commitment to resolving inter-state disputes.

The meeting will be held via video conferencing, with key stakeholders, including state irrigation ministers, senior bureaucrats, and officials from the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, Central Water Commission, and the Polavaram Project Authority in attendance.

Odisha officials hope that PM Modi’s intervention will eliminate bottlenecks and accelerate progress on the project, ensuring water security and infrastructure advancement in Andhra Pradesh while addressing concerns from the neighbouring states.

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