By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 16, 2016: The Odisha Legislative Assembly was on Wednesday adjourned in the morning session as the ruling BJD lawmakers insisted on debating the Polavaram multi-purpose dam issue while the opposition BJP and Congress members remained firm on their demand on discussing large-scale corruption in appointment of assistant executive engineers.
The BJD members, during the Zero Hour, raised the controversial Polavaram dam issue saying the construction of the dam by the Andhra Pradesh government over the river Godavari was going to affect hundreds of tribals in Odisha’s Malkangiri district.

The issue was raised when the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Narsingh Mishra was drawing the attention of the Speaker to large-scale corruption in appointment of assistant executive engineers. The LoP was also demanding a debate on the issue in the House.

BJP legislator Pradip Purohit said the BJD MLAs raised the issue only to divert the attention from the large-scale corruption in the appointment of assistant executive engineers.

Leader of the Opposition Mr Mishra also accused the BJD of adopting an “unfair” method and diversionary tactics to ignore the demand for debate on corruption.

“The chief minister had admitted in his Tweeter posting that corruption has taken place in appointment of assistant executive engineers. When the investigation into the irregularities is on, – how did he issue appointment letters to new assistant executive engineers? The irregularities happened with the Chief Minister’s knowledge. He should give his reply on this issue,” Mishra said.

Congress members demanded a ruling from the Speaker on the issue which was supported by BJP members.
In the commotion, ruling BJD MLA from Malkangiri Manas Madkami raised the Polavaram issue and demanded a debate over it in the House which was supported by other BJD members.

After the Speaker allowed for a debate on the subject, the Congress and BJP members rushed into the well of the House created noisy scenes and demanded a ruling from the Chair on the corruption in the appointment of assistant executive engineers.

After the House was adjourned by the Speaker Niranjan Pujari till 3 PM, BJD ministers and MLAs criticised the partisan policy of the Centre with regard to the Polavaram issue. They staged a dharna in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue inside the Assembly premises.