Though more than 50 years have elapsed since many families have lost their land for establishment of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) and construction of the Mandira Dam, yet they have not been suitably rehabilitated yet.
The displaced families had approached the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC). According to the displaced persons’ association president and former MlA Mansid Ekka, the SHRC after hearing the case had ruled on May 2, 2012 that the State Government make necessary arrangements for adequate compensation and return 306 acres of land at Bandhposh to the land owners by August 31, 2012.
However, the State Government did not carry out the SHRC’s ruling. Hence, the displaced persons’ association again appealed the commission to give necessary direction to the Government on the issue. The commission in the next ruling on September 19 last took a serious note of the lapses and directed the Government to carry out the order within six weeks.
But the State Government under various pretexts sought some time to fulfill the obligation, but the SHRC turned it down and asked the State Government for early execution of the order on May 2, 2012. Now, after submitting the commission’s order to the RDC (Northern Division) on December 23 last, the association has been waiting for a favourable response from the Government.