Assembly news: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Dec 6: The Odisha Assembly experienced multiple adjournments on Friday as both Congress and BJD MLAs staged protests against the controversial Polavaram Dam project in neighboring Andhra Pradesh. When the House convened for Question Hour, Congress members quickly rushed to the well, protesting Speaker Surama Padhy’s decision to reject their request for a discussion on the Polavaram issue, citing that the matter was sub-judice.
Opposition whip Pramila Mallik urged the Speaker to restore order before proceeding with the Question Hour. Despite this, Congress members remained defiant, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House until 11:30 AM. When the session resumed, BJD members joined the protests, accusing the BJP of neglecting Odisha’s interests. Unable to regain control, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings again until 4 PM.
Outside the Assembly, Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reiterated the BJD’s commitment to advocating for Odisha’s interests. On Thursday, the BJD had submitted a memorandum to the Central Water Commission, calling for a revision of the Polavaram dam’s design to mitigate its impact on Odisha and ensure that resettlement plans consider vulnerable tribal populations.
