Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court today slapped a penalty of Rs 20,000 on the Central Government for not responding to its earlier notice in connection with a writ petition filed by the Odisha Government challenging accord of 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.

Notably, apprehending that several villages in Malkangiri district will be submerged with the coming up of the Polavaram project, the Odisha government had moved the apex court last year opposing it. Telangana and Chhattisgarh governments are opposing Polavaram project.

While the erstwhile UPA government at the Centre had accorded national project status tag to Polavaram project, the incumbent NDA government has announced to provide all financial support to the project.