NHRC opens Salandi-Nalia projects case

| | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has finally reopened the closed cases pertaining to human rights violation due to the implementation of Salandi-Nalia projects in Bhadrak district.

Earlier, as a result of the closure of the case more than 1,000 families had lost hope of compensation and rehabilitation under the Law.

Earlier investigations had exposed massive corruption and human rights violation in both the projects. More than Rs 26 crore was paid as compensation to about 5,000 families and Rs 2 crore was paid for rehabilitation of hundreds of displaced person.

Rights activists and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy filed Public Interest Litigation(PIL) in various forums including NHRC . However, the NHRC took up the cases and deputed its Special Rapporteur thrice to investigate the cases. Subsequently more than 400 project affected persons (PAP) filed cases before the NHRC seeking justice.

On March 12, the NHRC sought personal presence of Tripathy and also Special Rapportuer Damodar Sarangi for a detailed discussion in the matter to remove the confusion.

Tripathy who has been fighting the case since the beginning has moved separate applications for re-opening the cases as there are large number of victims whose grievances remain unaddressed till date and plethora of other issues still remain unsolved.

Due to fear and ignorance, the victims of the project did not raise their voice against the illegalities in the execution of the project. A few who did were attacked and threatened with dire consequences. With the closure of cases they remained hopeless and frustrated.

Now the NHRC directed the Bhadrak district Collector to pay compensation to the left out people who lost their land under the new enactment with statutory interest and benefits to them and submit a compliance report along with detailed list of compensation amount paid to the affected people, who lost their land within a period of six weeks.

The NHRC also asked Tripathy to approach the Odisha Chief Secretary and impress upon him to sanction required funds for early completion of the projects.