Taking a serious view of the non responsive attitude of the Chief Secretary, Odisha in submission of replies, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on July 6 issued summons to him to appear before the Commission on August 23 along with requisite reports on the steps taken to comply with the directions passed since 2013 to ensure basic human rights of the displaced people in Indravati hydro-electric power project. The NHRC passed the order on a petition filed by civil rights lawyer–cum-Supreme Court lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy .The petitioner alleged that the State Government had denied the basic amenities to the villagers of around 100 villages belonging to Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Malkangiri and Koraput districts due to the Indravati project. Tripathy requested the NHRC to take up matter with the Chief Secretary
of the State for unreasonable delay to comply with recommendations of the Special Rapporteur with regard to the project covering Kalahandi and Nabarangpur districts and to send a team of officials to conduct an inquiry of the area of the project including Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada districts related to Indravati project. The NHRC transmitted the rejoinder of Tripathy to the Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha for submission of additional report in the light of the same. The Commission observed that despite direction and subsequent reminder, the Chief Secretary failed to submit the requisite report till date.