Bhubaneswar : The Orissa government on Aug 30 said it will move the Supreme Court, challenging the Centre's approval of forest clearance to Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh without taking its view.

"We will challenge the decision of the Union ministry of environment and forest in the Supreme Court in the next two days and the manner in which it accorded clearance to Polavaram project," water resources department secretary Suresh Mohapatra told reporters here.

Besides seeking the approval to be kept in abeyance, the ministry would be asked to clarify how it approved the revised designs of Polavaram project without taking views of Orissa government, Mohapatra said.

The project is likely to submerge large number villages in Orissa's Malkangiri district. At least 25 tribal villages and a large chunk of forest would be inundated there, he said.