Naveen Patnaik to take up Pollavaram and Posco issues with PM

Annoyed over the Saxena panel's adverse remarks against Vedanta and Posco projects in the state and the Centre's clearance to the Pollavaram project in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik today rushed to Delhi for drawing attention of the prime minister.

Naveen who is scheduled to meet the prime minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow at 11am, would raise all the issues concerning the state, particularly on the Saxena panel's adverse remarks on Posco and Vedanta projects besides Pollavaram matter, official sources said.

"I shall be meeting the PM tomorrow and take up matters regarding the Polavaram issue and also about Posco and put forward the state's demands regarding these two matters," Patnaik told reporters before boarding a flight to the national capital.

Worried over the Centre "ignoring" the state's views on Pollavaram project set up over Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh, the chief minister had already written a letter opposing the project while the state government moved the Supreme Court over the issue.

Despite Orissa's all out efforts, the Centre accorded clearance to Pollavaram project knowing it well that it would submerge tribal villages, a senior official at the Water Resource development department said.