BJD calls for hartal over Polavaram issue

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, July 13: The ruling Biju Janata Dal has called for a day-long hartal in undivided Koraput district on Monday to protest against passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill that cleared the way for construction of the Polavaram multi-purpose project.The strike will be observed in the districts of Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Rayagada from 6 am to 6 pm, according to Narendra Swain, general secretary of the Biju Janata Dal.Swain said that even as Odisha had been opposing the controversial Polavaram project for the past seven years and approached the Supreme Court, both Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress had ensured passage of the Bill though the matter was still pending before the apex court.The party expressed apprehension that the project will lead to displacement of a large number of tribal people in Malkangiri district and cause inundation of thousands of acres of land.The day-long strike will be peaceful, Swain said.