By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 7, 2017: The Naveen Patnaik government appears to have embarrassed the Narendra Modi led NDA government at the centre when the Supreme Court on Tuesday imposed a penalty of Rs 20,000 on the latter for not responding to its earlier notice in connection with a writ petition filed by the Odisha Government challenging national project status tag to Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project.

The Apex Court has asked the Centre to reply within four weeks. Besides, it has asked the Central Government to make Telangana and Chhattisgarh as parties in the case.

The Odisha government had moved the apex court last year opposing the project as it would submerge several villages in Malkangiri district in the state. Interestingly, both Telangana and Chhattisgarh governments are opposing Polavaram project.

The erstwhile UPA government at the Centre had accorded national project status tag to Polavaram project where as the NDA government has announced to provide all financial support to the project.