Recently the investigation of displaced villagers of Kansbans and Gamei river renovation project was completed by Special Rapporteur Damodar Sarangi of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Bhadrak and Baleswar districts.
However, there are other instances of displacements like Indravati Hydro-Electric Project crossing decades affecting lives of lakhs of people touching four districts of Odisha. In Deo project in Mayurbhanj district the district administration admits there is corruption by the Government officials.
It was the persistent efforts of noted social activist and Supreme Court lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy that brought a ray of hope for lakhs of victims in Indravati, Salandi-Nalia, Reba-Kapali, Kansbans-Gamei, Deo and Satabhaya project. The
NHRC in certain cases deputed its officials for investigation of the large scale human rights violation.
Issuing notice to the State Government, the NHRC sought ATR from the State and got the matter investigated by its team.
Pointing out the illegalities in the projects of Bhadrak and Baleswar districts, activist Tripathy requested the NHRC to ensure compensation as per the land Acquisition Act and rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced people.
In case of Indravati Hydro-electric project even after three years of an order passed by the NHRC, the Chief Secretary of Odisha is yet to constitute a committee to look into the plight of the displaced and affected families.
The petitioner pointed out that in the year 1978, the project of Indrabati at Mukhiguda in Kalahandi was inaugurated, in which 74 villages were submerged in the reservoir. About 6,133 families were displaced and some of them were rehabilitated. Electricity is not being supplied to the persons, who were rehabilitated. Besides, all- weather road, free and compulsory education to the children up to 14 years, safe drinking water, toilet to the BPl families, primary healthcare etc eluded them.
The complainant had stated that all the displaced families have not been rehabilitated and those settled are deprived of bare necessities of life. Justice not only
remains a far cry for the victims of Indravati but also for the Deo project and Satabhaya and Satkosia.