Chhattisgarh has approached the Supreme Court against the Indira Sagar Polavaram Dam in Andhra Pradesh as no public hearing has been held in the state's  villages which will be affected by it, Water Resources Department Minister Ravindra Choubey said on Thursday.

The Minister told the Assembly that the ‘daiphragm' (water blocking) walls in the project will make water flow into Shabri affecting more   villages on the banks. Keeping these in view, the Chhattisgarh government has moved the apex court.

He was answering a query raised by Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (Jogi) member Dr Renu Jogi during  Question Hour on the fourth day of the Assembly's winter session.

Choubey said the Polavaram, at a reduced level of 150 feet, will submerge nine villages of Sukma district while construction is planned for 177.44 feet, on which the objection has been raised. A population of 18,510 will be affected.

Along with Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Telangana have also approached the apex court.

Dr Renu said the project will benefit only Andhra Pradesh and those affected in Chhattisgarh will be the most primitive and endangered tribes of Dorla and Koya. Around 13 km of area will be submerged, mainly villages and forests.

Choubey said the three blocks of Sukma, Konta and Chindgarh will be affected. The matter has also been raised before the Godawari Tribunal.

BJP's Ajay Chandrakar said the government needs to keep the interests of state in the Supreme Court as the very existence of the most primitive tribes is at stake.

Choubey said the state government has not made any plan for resettlement or compensation to the tribes as it is waiting for the apex court's final order.