Meeting of the Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee for NLC Project-Affected People
Jharsuguda: A significant meeting of the Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC), constituted for the coal mining and thermal power projects being implemented by NLC in Sambalpur and Jharsuguda districts, was held recently. The meeting was chaired by Northern Revenue Divisional Commissioner Sangram Keshari Mohapatra, IAS. Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan attended the meeting and held detailed discussions on the basic issues and rights of people affected by the projects.
The meeting was attended by Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathy, Rengali MLA Sudarshan Haripal, former Rengali MLA, representative of the Bargarh MP, Northern Range IGP, Jharsuguda Collector Kunal Motiram Chavan, Sambalpur Collector Siddheshwar Baliram Bondar, and senior administrative officials from both districts. The NLC CMD, Director (Power), ED (Mines), ED (Thermal Power Project) and representatives of displaced villagers and members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) also participated and presented their views.
The meeting held detailed discussions on several key issues, including land acquisition, payment of appropriate compensation, rehabilitation arrangements, employment for local people, self-employment opportunities, skill development training, peripheral development, and environmental protection. Special emphasis was laid on providing fair and enhanced compensation to project-affected people. The meeting also reviewed in detail discrepancies in the assessment of houses and other structures, errors in valuation, difficulties in payment of dues, and the applicable interest rate.
Besides this, detailed deliberations were held on the rehabilitation and resettlement policy, certain special cases, and the fifth phase of rehabilitation and peripheral development.
It was decided to constitute a dedicated Sub-Committee for the speedy hearing and resolution of day-to-day grievances of the general public in the project areas. People will be able to place their grievances before this Sub-Committee, which will examine and discuss the issues before presenting them at the subsequent RPDAC meeting. The meeting also discussed various challenges being faced by NLC in implementing the projects and measures to reduce anti-social activities in the affected areas. Issues concerning employment, self-employment and skill development training for local people were also discussed.
Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan stated that many people in the area had earlier been displaced during the construction of the Hirakud Dam and are now once again being affected by projects. He said that since the region is primarily inhabited by people belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and economically weaker sections of society, the protection of their interests must be given the highest priority.
On the occasion, Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathy said that special attention was being given to ensuring maximum employment opportunities for local youth under the project. He stated that the primary objective was to fulfil 100% of the legitimate demands of the affected people. He further said that all problems and grievances raised by the local residents had been discussed in detail during the meeting and that, with the cooperation of the administration and company authorities, a permanent solution to these issues would be ensured at the earliest.
Dharmendra Pradhan expressed hope that all the directions and recommendations issued to NLC by the RPDAC Committee under the leadership of the RDC would be implemented promptly and properly by the company authorities. He stated that resolving the problems of local residents and ensuring their legitimate rights remained the primary focus of the state administration and the committee.
