The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the State Chief Secretary to adhere to its seven recommendations within three months arising out of the Reba-Kapali River Renovation Project in Bhadrak.
The most important among the recommendations are to pay compensation to the land losers and rehabilitate the victims under rehabilitation policy after making proper socio-economic survey.
The direction of the apex human rights panel came up on a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.
The petitioner alleged that while executing the project the Drainage division under the Water Resources Department did not pay any heed to the complaints/grievances of the villagers who reside on the embankments or in the nearby areas.
They lost their land, standing crops, trees besides deprived of their livelihood and at times suffer from artificial floods, water stagnation etc. The Government authorities instead of following the laws and norms, rules and regulations threatened the poor villagers. The applicable laws namely land Acquisition Act, Rehabilitation Policy and Environmental laws have been flouted adamantly with destruction of flora and fauna, uprooting of trees etc.
Considering the severity of the human rights violations happening in rural India and are seldom reported through media, the NHRC deputed its Special Rapporteur Damodar Sarangi to visit the places and submit factual report. In his comprehensive report Sarangi found the allegations leveled by the petitioner are true.