Lower Indra: Fake displaced get rehab

The issue of fake displaced persons (DPs) seems to have taken a deep root in the rehabilitation and resettlement (R and R) process in the Lower Indra Irrigation Project (LIIP) of Nuapaada district.

Some DPs who feel that they are deprived of their due rights due to the corrupt practices of the R and R unit of the LIIP have drawn attention of the Principal Secretary, Department of Water Resources (DoWR),  Odisha.

“We have drawn attention of the Principal Secretary repeatedly, but no step has been taken,” lamented Karunakar Hota, one of the complainants.

According to the complaint, the R and R unit of the LIIP has allegedly paid Rs14 lakh as assistance to two fake DPs of Komna and is going to release another Rs 48 lakh to eight fake DPs of Dumerbahal, which are partially affected villages. “These families have been included in the “more than” list although they are losing less than 75 per cent of their holdings, whereas list of a large number of genuine DPs of the fully submerged villages has not been submitted,” revealed Hota. “Principal Secretary Pradip Jena had instructed the officials of the LIIP in a public meeting held at Kanabira village a few months ago to submit the documents of the DPs of the fully submerged villages, but the officials here are not obeying the directions,” he added, further alleging that the brokers and the corrupt officials made a deal of Rs 15 lakh with the fake DPs of these two villages for getting their work done.

Earlier, in 2017 four persons of Khudpej village of Khariar block which is in the Ayacut area of LIIP had also been paid R and R assistance although they were not eligible for that. These fake DPs identified by the complainant are Dutia Rana, son of Abhiram Rana and his three sons named Laxman Rana, Venkar Rana and Narendra Rana. Dutia Rana and his sons own 14.69 acre of land in total, out of which only 3.32 acres was in Sanbaheli, which is one of the project affected villages of LIIP and rest 10.37 acre in Khudpej village. As these families did not loss more than 75 per cent of their land, they should not be entitled for any R and R. However, by producing forged documents, these four persons in connivance with the project officials have availed R and R.

“We had drawn the attention of the then Project Director in charge Nilachal Sahu regarding this, but instead of listening to us, he made the payment,” said secretary of Lower Indra Bistapit Surakshya Samiti (LIBSS) Nitya Sahu. “There are many such instances, which can be traced through due investigation,” said Jharu Behera, a DP of Lambipani village. He also cited the cases of Bhuja Adjued and Parameswar Adjued, who would be paid assistance as the DPs of Lambipani village, although they belong to the village Juba Bahal of Turekela block in Balangir district. The complaints have also reported that the list of DPs sent to the Government between August and December 2017 has names of minors as DPs.

“Sarojini Behera and Padmalaya Behera of Lambipani who are staying now with their parents in Chanabeda village were respectively 13 and 14 years old on the cutoff date i.e. 1.1.2014; but they have been identified as DPs. This list has names of ten more persons below 18 years and they will get the R and R assistance. How can these minors be included in the DP list?” asked the complainants.  “13 persons including three Government officials had been jailed in the year 2013 for fraudulent transactions. The officials as well as their brokers have not learnt from the past episodes. The authority should initiate stringent action to punish the culprits,” demanded the complainants.