: The NHRC has sought for a detailed report from the Chief Secretary, Odisha and the district Collector, Sundargarh, on the denial of right to vote and resettle with bare necessities and basic amenities to the displaced mass, mainly due to the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), Mandira Dam, Rukuda Dam and projects by the Railways.
Though a ‘Sarna Pooja Sthal’ has been ensured to the displaced people of the RSP after petition, Right to Vote is a far cry for them as more than thirty-two villages are neither included in the NAC nor in Gram Panchayat denying them the right to choose local representatives.
The NHRC after considering the petition and rejoinder filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy and replies submitted by the Sundargarh district administration sought for a response.
Since dozens of hamlets and villages don’t come under Gram Panchayat or Municipality sincere steps must be taken by the Government to do the needful for ensuring rights as local bodies are concerned, Tripathy said. He also moved to the Election Commission of India further stating that the creation of new GPs/adding the settlement in existing GPs should be geared up by the Revenue Department of the Government of Odisha without delay. All facilities of RD departments should be invariably extended to such settlements at the earliest. The existing inhabitants in the hamlets and revenue villages should not be disturbed by any means and sincere steps must be taken by the State authorities to regularise the land possessed by them.
However, nothing has been done so far. The victims have been leading a miserable life with no legal remedy.
The Government of Odisha must take action on top priority for returning unused acquired land and the un-acquired land to the persons who have originally owned it. In all the cases where alternative land has been allotted, demarcation of land should be invariably done and improvement of such agricultural land should be done by convergence of various development schemes, petitioner Tripathy had demanded.