Bhubaneswar: Sending a note of assurance, the Centre on Thursday assured the Odisha government that no area of the state would be submerged due to coming up of the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh. In a letter to chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday, Union forest and environment minister Jairam Ramesh said that the Centre is as much concerned for Odisha as for Andhra Pradesh. Briefing newsmen in New Delhi, Ramesh vociferously said that he would also oppose the multi-purpose mega project if it goes against Odisha or Chhattisgarh. I ensure that no area of either Odisha or Chhattisgarh would be submerged in the waters of the project. If it so happens, I would certainly oppose the project, he assured. Meanwhile, president of the Odisha Pradesh Youth Congress and Nabarangpur MP Pradip Majhi said that at least 28 villages would be submerged if Polavaram project comes up in Andhra Pradesh. We would certainly oppose the project as it is going to submerge 28 villages of his district, he said, adding that he would certainly raise voice against the project as it goes against the interest of the state. However, Kalahandi MP Bhakta Charan Das said that no part of the state is going to be submerged due to Polavarm project. If some parts would be submerged, I would also oppose the project, he clarified. It may be mentioned here that the Centre recently gave requisite clearances to Andhra Pradesh to use 3, 000 acres of land for Polavaram project. The Odisha government has requested the Centre that the project should not be allowed to come up as it would submerge many villages of Malkangiri district and would cause water scarcity in the state. A case in this regard is also pending in the Supreme Court.