NHRC SERVES NOTICE TO BALANGIR DM, SP

Dear all
.I am posting  this news  for perusal of all.
SudhirMishra/Bolangir
================= NHRC SERVES NOTICE TO BALANGIR DM, SP

Monday, 06 May 2013 | PNS | BHADRAK | in Bhubaneswar

 ===================================================================

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police of Balangir district over  large scale displacement of villagers forcibly by the Government for the construction of the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project.

The apex watchdog of human rights received a petition from human rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, who complained that the villagers were forcibly asked to vacate their lands for the dam and when they protested, they were assrested and put in jail en masse. Besides, the land oustees were denied adequate compensation and rehabilitation by the administration, Tripathy pointed out.

Notably, despite stiff resistance of the villagers affected by the Lower Suktel Project, construction work for the project at Magurbeda under Loisingha block is underway. Meanwhile, police arrested 72 members of Budi Anchal Sangram Parishad, an organisation spearheading the anti-project campaign for last 15 years. Police registered cases under various Sections of the IPC and Section 7 of the PLR Act against the protestors.

The protestors alleged that they were not informed about the construction of the dam. But police forcibly evicted them from the construction venue and continued with the work. When women attempted to stop the construction work, they were too chased by the police, Radhakanta contended.

He further pointed out that no displacement without proper rehabilitation and resettlement should be allowed. The sustainability and inclusive growth factor should not be bypassed by the Government, while executing the project, he said.

He requested the NHRC to investigate the case, direct the police to release the protestors, conduct a proper socio-economic survey for the project and ask the State Government to rehabilitate and resettle the displaced villagers and pay adequate compensation to the victims due to the execution of the project.

The NHRC sought a report over the issue within four weeks and in default the commission may proceed to take such action as it deems proper, the rights panel warned.

 ======================================================