NHRC to Odisha: Submit report on rehabilitation of Hirakud Dam oustees

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Odisha government to submit a report people displaced by Hirakud Dam Project. The NHRC wants a report on the non-receipt of compensation by people who were ousted due to the project.

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Odisha government to submit a report on non-receipt of compensation by people who were displaced by the Hirakud Dam project.

The commission's panel asked the Chief Secretary to submit the report by December 7.

Human rights lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy had moved the NHRC drawing its attention to incomplete rehabilitation of 26,561 families displaced for construction of the Hirakud Dam project. The land for the mega project was acquired during 1952-53.

After the NHRC’s intervention, the Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Northern Division of Odisha, submitted that steps were taken from time to time to redress grievances of the displaced families who belonged to four districts — Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh and Subarnapur.

“The issues with regard to DC [Deputy Commissioner] patta, payment of ex gratia, homestead land, settlement of agriculture land and basic amenities stand settled. As on date, no case of rehabilitation is pending,” the RDC had submitted to the NHRC.

The RDC, however, admitted that certain service groups of people, including Jhankar, Chowkidar, Nariha. Dhoba and Bhandari were not awarded full compensation and were yet to be rehabilitated.

The issue drew attention after the investigation report of NHRC Special Rapporteur B.B. Mishra revealed that a large number of people had not been compensated.