The issue of alleged grabbing of land of tribals for the proposed Kanpur Major Irrigation project in Basudevpur block in Keonjhar district would now be probed by the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has transferred a petition to the OHRC in this regard recently.
Acting on a petition filed by Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain which alleged that lands of tribals and Dalit people of nearly 20 villages in Keonjhar district were forcefully taken away by the Government by imposing prohibition order of Section 144 of CrPC for the Kanpur Major Irrigation Project, the NHRC has asked the State rights body to dispose of the case in accordance with law.
“For the last 10 years, the district administration is acquiring land. On March 28, the administration illegally grabbed the land of the tribal, SC and ST people in nearly 20 villages by enforcing prohibition order of 144 of the CrPc. The villagers have been debarred to visit their land, water bodies, crops,” the petitioner contended.
The petitioner contended that the victims were yet to get compensation for the loss.
Swain prayed the commission for criminal/disciplinary action against the concerned public authorities and compensation for land losers according to R&R Policy 2013.