In the Dhamra Port project displacement case, Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy submitted a rejoinder as sought by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Following a direction of the Commission, the Bhadrak District Collector had earlier filed a report on the issue, showing that displacement problem had been duly taken care of by the administration.
However, the NHRC wanted to know the response of Tripathy, who had filed a petition earlier against apathy shown by the District Administration to the displaced people of the project, through a rejoinder latest by May 3 next.
Meanwhile, the activist in his rejoinder stated that the facts submitted by the District Administration were not correct.
There are seven orphan children, 30 handicapped, 10 helpless women and 162 others, who have been denied compensation and subsequent rehabilitation measures.
Besides, 81 families, those who had been living on Government land, have been also displaced but without rehabilitation, he mentioned.
There are about 100 cases pending against the victims, who were assembled to peacefully demonstrate and air their grievances against land acquisition by the administration.
These cases have been filed by the Government just to suppress the voice of the aggrieved mass, Tripathy pointed out.
He further alleged that the displacement activities and rehabilitation measures were not carried out in line with applicable guidelines.
Tripathy informed that the land acquisitions were not done as per laws.
No gram sabha or palli sabha were ever held for their decision pertaining to the matter, said Tripathy, clarifying to the commission that he was not against any development-oriented project, but all he wanted was that land acquisition for projects should be undertaken as per law, while the evacuees should be rehabilitated properly.
Citing that not giving proper compensation to the victims and leaving them in the lurch after their lands were acquired for any project was a breach of human rights, Tripathy requested the Commission to send a Special Rapporteur to the area for on-site visit and interaction with the victims.