16th Lok Sabha witnesses first protest over Polavaram ordinance

The ordinance over the Polavaram irrigation project triggered the first protest in the 16th Lok Sabha with Telangana Rashtra Samiti members storming the Well against the measure.

BJD members, led by B Mahtab, were on their feet as soon as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Santosh Gangwar tabled the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014, promulgated last month.

BJD as also TRS members carried placards opposing the project, saying it will hurt the interests of tribals despite Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asking them not to shout slogans in the House.

The TRS members did not relent in their protest despite the Speaker disapproving of their conduct and asking them to take up the issue when a bill to replace the ordinance is brought up for consideration.

"Please go to your seats. This is not fair. This is not the time. When ordinance will come up for discussion, you can raise the issue...you know the procedure...that time I will allow full discussion, but not in this way," Mahajan told the agitating members.

In the din, BJD leader B Mahtab sought to raise a point of order but nothing was audible.

The Speaker adjourned the House for the day after laying of papers, including the President's address to the joint sitting of Parliament.

Telangana Chief Minister and TRS leader K Chandrashekar Rao had on Sunday made it clear that his party will oppose the Ordinance when it comes up in Parliament.

He had also said a consensus among the four stakeholder states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha is necessary before going ahead with the Polavaram irrigation project.

He had asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a meeting of the four CMs.

Last month the government had promulgated an ordinance merging some villages and mandals of Telangana into Seemandhra in a bid to deal with resettlement and rehabilitation of those displaced by the Polavaram project.

The ordinance aims at facilitating smooth resettlement and rehabilitation on part of the multi-purpose project which will help in irrigation and power generation.

The amendment will enable land for land in the same revenue division where people will be displaced.

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