HC sets May 13 deadline to pay compensation to displaced families of Kansabahal irrigation project
Orissa high court
has set May 13 as deadline for disbursal of compensation to 339 families who were displaced due to the
Kansabahal irrigation project
in
Sundargarh district
, more than three decades back.
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The HC was hearing a petition on Wednesday seeking direction to the authorities concerned to release the compensation amount with interest to the displaced families belonging to Badanuagaon, Dungajhore, Ranipia and Maldihi villages in accordance with law within a stipulated period.
The petition filed in 2021 by 12 people representing 339 displaced families also sought direction to extend the benefits as per the
rehabilitation policy
formulated by the state irrigation department in 1990.
According to the case records, the executive engineer, Sundargarh irrigation division, had deposited Rs 4,38,89,000 in 2014 for disbursement to the displaced families of Kansbahal irrigation project as per sanctioned estimate and rules in force.
Subsequently, the Sundargarh district collector, in a letter to the director resettlement & rehabilitation (state water resources department) on Feb 5, 2014, sought clarification in connection with the rehabilitation assistance to the affected persons of the irrigation project.
Advocate Sanjeev Udgata, representing the petitioners, pointed to the court that there has been an inordinate delay in disbursement of compensation as even though the amount has been deposited way back in 2014 and clarification had been sought for as to what rate rehabilitation assistance would be paid, the Sundargarh district collector has received no such clarification till date.
Expressing displeasure over the state of affairs, the bench of Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra pulled up the director resettlement & rehabilitation (state water resources department) and directed him to immediately provide the clarification sought by the Sundargarh district collector for disbursal of the amount by May 13.
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