The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decided to send its Special Rapporteur to investigate the sensitive issue of rights violation in the execution of Reba-Kapali renovation project in Bhadrak district.
The decision of the NHRC came after a petition filed in 2009 and subsequent submissions by noted rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.
The then ADM of Bhadrak in 2009 had denied any forcible land acquisition and therefore ruled out any compensation in the project. The stand of the ADM was also re-iterated by the Secretary of Water Resources Suresh Mohapatra before the full bench of the NHRC on January 18, 2011 at Bhabaneswar camp sitting. However, hearing both the sides, the NHRC bench had directed the Chief Secretary to pay compensation to the victims of Reba-Kapali as per applicable laws.
But the Government officials did not pay any heed to the direction of the NHRC till date. Rather they played dirty tricks. The same was brought to the notice of commission by the victims under the leadership of Radhakanta. The rights activist had requested the panel for a spot enquiry by the panel.
Finally, NHRC Special Rapporteur Damodar Sarangi will be in Bhadrak to visit the affected area and hold talks with the victims of Reba-Kapali Project from December 7 to 11.
The visit is important since Sarangi has also investigated the human rights violation in Salandi Sanskar Project. A few months back, a team of the NHRC also visited Bhadrak and Baleswar in connection with the human rights violation in Gamei and Kansbans
projects.