The State Government on Monday assured the Assembly that those landless and displaced families who have been residing in slums or on Government lands would be rehabilitated in two years. “All landless and displaced persons who are yet to get homestead lands would be resettled. There would be no landless family in the State after two years,” Revenue and Disaster Minister Bijayshree Routray told the House.
Replying to questions put by Tara Prasad Bahinipati on behalf of Krushna Chandra Sagaria and other members, the Minister said people living landless is a burning problem in the State and they would be rehabilitated sympathetically. Members raised displaced issues relating to various projects, including the Hindustan Aeronautics limited and Hirakud dam project, and wanted to know when the displaced families would be rehabilitated.
In response to queries relating to Bangladeshi refugees, the Minister said the Bangladeshi families, who have been residing at various places in the State by virtue of a Central Act would gradually enjoy natural citizenship in coming days. The Minister said families residing on Government land in Koraput district’s Sunabeda town area have not been given homestead land patta (Right of Record) as the land has been excluded from consolidation as per the Odisha Government land Settlement Rules, 1983.