Pradhan: Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan writes to Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik seeking compensation for people displaced by Rengali dam | India News
BHUBANESWAR: Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday wrote to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seeking proper rehabilitation and compensation
BHUBANESWAR: Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday wrote to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seeking proper rehabilitation and compensation for the 13,000-odd people displaced by the Rengali dam project in the state five decades ago. It is a “step-motherly attitude” of the state government to those people, the senior BJP leader said in his second letter to Patnaik on the same issue after the one dispatched in July.
In his latest letter written in Odia language, he said the Rengali dam project built on the Brahmani river is the second largest river embankment project in Odisha which has helped Odisha expand irrigation facilities and augment hydropower generation.
But the “displaced people continue to remain neglected even five decades after their displacement,” he alleged.
The minister said that around 13,000 families in 263 villages in Angul and Deogarh districts became homeless due to the project in 1973.
Despite multiple protests and demonstrations, the condition of the displaced people has remained unchanged, the union education and skill development minister said in the letter.
“Due to lack of strong leadership, the displaced families are yet to get justice. More than 80 per cent of the displaced people belong to the poor, labourers, farmers, backwards, Dalit and tribals, who are feeling neglected and insulted,” Pradhan said.
He demanded early fulfilment of seven charter demands of the displaced people — allotment of permanent land rights, compensation, permanent job to one from each displaced family, health insurance coverage, free power supply, ration card, and redevelopment of temples.
In his July letter, Pradhan said, “In September 2010, as per the instruction of the chief minister, the amount of compensation (to the displaced people) was estimated at Rs 152 crore, but the affected families are yet to get compensation and rehabilitation packages.”
In his latest letter written in Odia language, he said the Rengali dam project built on the Brahmani river is the second largest river embankment project in Odisha which has helped Odisha expand irrigation facilities and augment hydropower generation.
But the “displaced people continue to remain neglected even five decades after their displacement,” he alleged.
The minister said that around 13,000 families in 263 villages in Angul and Deogarh districts became homeless due to the project in 1973.
Despite multiple protests and demonstrations, the condition of the displaced people has remained unchanged, the union education and skill development minister said in the letter.
“Due to lack of strong leadership, the displaced families are yet to get justice. More than 80 per cent of the displaced people belong to the poor, labourers, farmers, backwards, Dalit and tribals, who are feeling neglected and insulted,” Pradhan said.
He demanded early fulfilment of seven charter demands of the displaced people — allotment of permanent land rights, compensation, permanent job to one from each displaced family, health insurance coverage, free power supply, ration card, and redevelopment of temples.
In his July letter, Pradhan said, “In September 2010, as per the instruction of the chief minister, the amount of compensation (to the displaced people) was estimated at Rs 152 crore, but the affected families are yet to get compensation and rehabilitation packages.”
