The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Odisha over inaction of the State authorities in ensuring basic human rights and not following the applicable laws while executing Reba-Kapali Sanskar Yojana in Bhadrak district. The NHRC has sough reply within four weeks.
The NHRC issued the notice acting on a petition filed by two freedom fighters, Bhadrak District Freedom Fighters’ Association president Ramahari Goswami and secretary Shyam Sunder Behera.
Both of them had raised the basic human rights issue involved in the project since the project has been executed without following the provisions of land Acquisition Act. The Odisha Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy-2006 has not also been followed while executing the work. Besides lakhs of trees are being felled flouting the environmental laws.
The freedom fighters said that neither the district administration nor the executing agencies pay any heed to the issues raised by Radhakanta Tripathy, a social activist who has been protesting against violation of human rights and environmental laws in the form of “Nadi-Nala Satyagraha”.
They further stated, “We also joined “Nadi-Nala Satyagraha” and brought to the notice of the administration about the rights violations, but to no avail. We being humane and believers in a society where only rule of law prevails, regret and condemn the adamant attitude of the government and sincerely request this apex watch dog of human rights to protect the basic rights of the victims of such projects.”
Both the petitioners met Satyabrata Pal, member, NHRC and requested him to consider the petition and ensure compensation and resettlement benefits as per the land Acquisition Act to all the victims after their identification through a proper socio-economic survey.