The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has instructed the High Power Committee, established by the Odisha government, to submit its report within 30 days outlining the necessary steps for compensating and restoring land to the tribal population whose land was acquired for the steel plant and other infrastructure projects in the 1950s.
Tribals have been demanding the restoration of land lying unused in the Rourkela Steel Plant, a central public sector unit, as they were not adequately compensated at the time of land acquisition. They alleged that instead of returning unused land to tribals, the State government was busy allotting those land patches for commercial and other purposes.
Around 32,000 acres of land were acquired by the Odisha government to establish the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), civil township, and Mandira Dam from 1955-59. According to tribal organisations, the RSP established its plant and civil township on about 15,000 acres of land and returned 5,000 acres of unused land to the State government.
Tribals had moved the NCST, a constitutional body, on several occasions seeking a resolution to their problems. On its part, the panel has on a number of occasions directed the government and other authorities such as the Union Steel Ministry and Union Ministry of Railways to make their stand clear.
The NCST, which conducted a hearing in New Delhi on January 21 last month in the presence of top RSP executives, railway officials, and Odisha government officials, had taken a serious view and expressed displeasure.
“It pains the Commission to learn that upon the recommendations of NCST, a High Power Committee, has been constituted, but the report has not been submitted so far, due to that issues have not been resolved till date. The Commission has taken a serious view and expressed displeasure on the negligent and lackadaisical attitude of the High Power Committee in dealing with the issue,” says the proceeding of the NCST hearing.
“Fair and adequate compensation have to be provided to the affected families and structured resettlement plans should be developed. Efforts have to be made to ensure timely implementation of these measures,” recommended NCST.
It also asked the State government to review the status of the unused land surrendered by RSP in line with the 2006 Parliamentary Standing Committee report which says land that has remained unused for more than five years could be returned to tribal communities.
Deme Oram of Sundargarh district had moved NCST bringing upon long-standing displacement issues faced by tribals in and around Rourkela. The panel has directed the Odisha government to ensure that the security is not misused to intimidate tribals and suppress their voices during Gram Sabha and Palli Sabha meetings. It is to be noted that Sundargarh, under the jurisdiction of which Rourkela comes, is a fifth schedule area.
Published – February 02, 2025 10:08 am IST