Issues of fraudulent transactions in payment of rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) assistance to fake project-affected persons (PAPs) of the lower Indra Irrigation Project(lIIP) in Nuapaada district have cropped up again.
Complaints in this regard have been made to the Principal Secretary, Department of Water Resources (DoWR), during his visit to Nuapada district on Friday by some PAPs. “A written complaint was sent to the Secretary a month ago but no step was taken, thus we met him during his visit to dam site on Friday and aired our grievances,” informed Karunakar Hota.
According to reports, the R&R section of land Acquisition Office (lAO) of the lIIP has illegally paid Rs 16 lakh in total as assistance to four persons of Khudpej village of Khariar block which is in the Ayacut area of lIIP. The fake PAPs as identified by the complainant are Dutia Rana, S/o Abhiram Rana and his three sons named laxman Rana, Venkar Rana and Narendra Rana. Dutia Rana and his sons own 14.69 acres of land in total, out of which 3.32 acres in Sanbaheli, which is one of the project affected villages of lIIP and rest 10.37 acres in Khudpej village. As these people are not the residents of the project affected villages, they are not entitled for any R&R. However, by producing forged documents, these four persons in connivance with the project officials have availed aid. “We had drawn the attention of the Project Director in charge Nilachal Sahu regarding this, but instead of listening to us, he made the payment,” said lower Indra Bistapit Surakshya Samiti (lIBSS) secretary Nitya Sahu.
“There are many such instances, which can be traced through due investigation,” added Nitya. He also cited the case of one Minketan Adbong, who has been paid R&R assistance, although he belongs to the village Hatisara located far away from the project area. It is reported that Minketan is the son-in-law of one Dhanurja Adbong of Sanbaheli village, but in the Government records, Minketan has been shown as one of the sons of Dhanurja.
likewise, it is learnt that, Harabati Dandsena, Gukhe Gaud, Sumitra Rout, Jamuna Rout, Kusam Manjari Rout, Bira Gaud, laxman Gaud, Ganga Dandsena and Debendra Dandsena, who are not permanent residents of Kirekela village, had been enlisted as more than 75 per cent affected families of Kirekela. “Ganga Dandsena is 14-year-old and is a student of class 10th of High School. How can he be included in the affected persons list,” asked the villagers. It is learnt that, the names of these families have been approved in the 3rd RPDAC meeting.
“13 persons, including three Government officials, had been jailed in the year 2013 for fraudulent transactions. The officials as well as their brokers have not learnt from the past episodes. The authority should initiate stringent action to punish the culprits,” said lIBSS president Alekh Majhi.