The Odisha Assembly Standing Committee on Rehabilitation led by its Chairman Deputy Speaker Sananda Marndi reviewed the rehabilitation of the local affected people who lost their land for the Kanpur irrigation project and various factories and mines in Keonjhar.
Earlier, the panel had visited the rehabilitation colonies of Jindal, Kitabeda, Sialjoda under Deojhar GP and Champua basti rehabilitation colony of Ariya Steel for stock taking.
They also examined the amenities available at the rehab colonies like road condition, communication, electricity, water and education, etc.
Sources revealed that at the outset, when the commiitte wanted to know the status of Kanpur irrigation project which had been delayed for one year by the local people who had stalled the construction demanding proper compensation, PD (R and R) Ashok Kumar Panda told that the rehabilitation would have been completed by now, but the problem lies with a Supreme Court ruling by which most of the lands in the Joda- Barbil area have been converted into forestland making it difficult for the Government to provide rehab to the affected people.
He also informed to the committee that a proposal involving Rs 62 crore has been sent to the State Government for the development of rehabilitation of colonies in acquired land of affected villages so that most of the rehabilitation problem can be solved.
With regard to industrial rehabilitation, the committee expressed its dissatisfaction saying that most factory owners aren't looking after the interest of the local people after acquiring their land.
Many land losers who are working under the contractors are leading a very miserable life as the companies are not providing any permanent jobs to the affected people, they said.
Chief Whip Amar Satpathy also wanted to know from the officials the status of the tribal land being used by a sponge unit at its railway siding. Satpathy, who is the Deputy Chairman of Environment Standing Committee of the Assembly, wanted to know about the deteriorating environment situation in Sirajuddin mines. However, no one was present from the company's side.