The Supreme Court on Friday admitted a petition filed by the Orissa government challenging the national project status given to Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project involving the Godavari river.

The apex court served notices to Andhra Pradesh and the Centre seeking replies within four weeks, reports said.

The court, while scheduling the next hearing on the matter after six weeks, has made Karnataka and Maharashtra parties in the case.

“The Supreme Court today issued notices on our application seeking to make Chhattisgarh and Telangana parties in the case. The apex court issued notices on our amended application challenging Section 90 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. The Andhra Pradesh government and the Union of India have been asked by the court to file their replies in the matter within four weeks. If the situation so demands, Orissa can file a rejoinder two weeks thereafter. The court will take up the matter for hearing in six weeks. Further, the court, considering their earlier applications, allowed Karnataka and Maharashtra to be made parties in the case,” Radheshyam Jena, the Orissa government’s counsel, said.

Fearing that several villages in Malkangiri district will be submerged with the coming up of the Polavaram project, the Orissa government had moved the apex court opposing it.

The erstwhile UPA government had accorded national project status to the project. The present government has committed all financial support to the project.

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has inked an agreement to extend financial assistance to the project.

According to reports, Nabard, which has agreed to fund Rs 28,796 crore needed to complete the Polavaram project, will provide Rs 800 crore for the same by October 15.