By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, January 2, 2015 : Ruling Biju Janata Dal on Saturday announced to launch a mass agitation across all seven districts of undivided Koraput district and organise a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar on January 7 opposing Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project being implemented by the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh.

Senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra told reporters that the party has been demanding to stop construction work at the project site must be stopped until the matter is settled in the court.

“The decisions are being taken unilaterally. It affects the interests of Odisha, its people, their lives and livelihood. What we have been demanding is a legitimate demand of the state. Biju Janata Dal would stage a mass agitation across all seven districts of undivided Koraput district and organise a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar on January 7 against it,” said Mishra.

BJP Odisha President KV Singh Deo, however, termed the proposed agitation a “melodrama”.

“BJD MPs recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi while the Parliament session was on. They had fallen silent after the Prime Minister explained them the project in details. They don’t even have a case. This is yet another melodrama,” said Singh Deo.