Compensation to displaced families : HC rejects govt affidavit

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Mar 28, 2014 at 9:46 AM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Mar 28:

The Odisha High Court on Thursday rejected the affidavit of the state government on the compensation to the oustees and displaced families of the Hirakud Dam project.

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Hearing the petition filed by senior lawyer and chief legal advisor of Bisthapita Sahayak Sangh Bharat Kumar Mishra, a division bench of the court, comprising Chief Justice AK Goel and Justice AK Rath, rejected the affidavit filed by the additional collector of Sambalpur Jyoti Kumar Lakra, on behalf of the state government, citing lack of details and crucial facts.

Besides, the learned bench also directed the state government to furnish affidavits relating to compensation to oustees of other projects including Rourkela Steel Plant, Rengali dam, Samal Barrage, Gohira dam, Mandira dam and Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) in detail.

The petitioner had alleged that lakhs of displaced families of the aforesaid project areas in Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Angul, Bargarh and Sundargarh districts have not yet been provided adequate compensation.

Besides, the state government has not yet identified the genuine beneficiaries, who have lost their land, and not taken any steps for their resettlement, the petitioner said while appealing the court to direct the state government to take immediate steps.