Special rapporteur of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Damodar Sarangi has started an investigation into problems of displacement in Deo-Hatibari project.
Sarangi reached Baripada and discussed the issue with the top district administration officials. He visited the project site and also held a meeting with the villagers of Hatibari.
Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy who has been fighting for the rights of the displaced is also present on the spot.
There is large scale corruption by the State authorities in compensating and settling the displaced mass in Deo irrigation project in Mayurbhanj district. Even if a FIR has been lodged, none of the officials has been arrested, nor suspended, Tripathy pointed out.
The displaced families are denied legitimate compensation due to the corrupt officials of the Government, he contended.
Pursuant to the directions of the Commission, a report dated 2.1.2016 from ADM, Mayurbhanj intimated that as per 1994 Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 469 displaced families were selected under DEO MIP and they were paid Rs 94,365 as rehabilitation assistance.
In the second RPDAC meeting conducted in the year 2009, it was decided that Rs 2,00, 000 will be paid to each displaced family under 469 displaced family category.
Accordingly, 347 displaced families have been paid Rs 2, 00,000 as exgratia after their evacuation from their dwelling houses.
The rest families have not vacated their dwelling houses. They have been asked to evacuate their dwelling houses. During a special audit, it was pointed out that some corrupt practices and frauds have been made by the unscrupulous Government officials and the Water Resources Department has been intimated about it.
In his rejoinder Tripathy stated that the report clearly admits the fact of rampant corruption by the State authorities in the present case. Moreover, the displaced families are not rehabilitated under the Odisha R&R Policy, 2006. The meager payment of ex-gratia to some people debars substantially the life, livelihood and basic human rights of the villagers.
The villagers of all the 14 villages need serious attention for the sake of justice.
The Special Rapporteur , the local elected representatives of the area , Tripathy visited the site, discussed the issue with the villagers and ascertain the root causes of human rights violation, corruption and unreasonable delay in rehabilitation and resettlement of the poor villagers.
The Sub-Collector, the Executive Engineer and the land Acquisition Officer along with other officials were also present.