KalingaTimes Correspondent
Bhubaneswar, Jan 9: In order to further strengthen its opposition to the multipurpose project on Godavari river at Polavaram in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa government on Wednesday said it would oppose an order of the High Court of the neighbouring State on the issue.

According to a press release issued by the Chief Minister's Office, the government said it would move the approach the Supreme Court to challenge the Andhra Pradesh High Court order to protect the interests of the State.

Acting on a petition filed by Andhra Pradesh government questioning the Andhra Pradesh High Court had granted a stay on a recent order of the National Environmental Appellate Authority (NEAA) quashing the environmental clearance granted by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to the Polavaram multipurpose project.

The Andhra Pradesh government has been trying hard to implement the project at a cost of Rs 13,500 crore to produce hydropower and create irrigation facilities.

The project has been facing stiff opposition from various quarters because it was likely to displace nearly 2 lakh people in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Chattisgarh.

The project, named Indira Sagar, includes construction of a dam and linking of Krishna and Godavari rivers to develop a vast irrigation system and produce 960 MW of power.