The second RPDAC (Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Committee) meeting of the Aditya Alumina was conducted in DRDA conference Hall Rayagada on 04.11.11. It was chaired by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner Southern Division Sri. L.N.Nayak, IAS and was attended by MP Koraput, MLA Laxmipur, DIG South western Range, Collector Koraput, SP Rayagada, along with the representative of Minister SC/ST development, authorities of Aditya Alumina, representatives of local NGOS and SHGs and representatives of displaced and project affected people of the area. Collector Rayagada is the member-convener of the meeting.
In the meeting number of issues was discussed as given below:
The land for R&R( Rehabilitation and Resettlement) colony at Kansariguda needs to be finalized, before the people of the village can be displaced. There is disagreement among the villagers about the site which has been earmarked for the R&R colony. It was given to know that the people of the locality believe that there is some kind of a bad omen with that place and want to be relocated at some other location, preferably near Singaram station or Bhalujodi. Also some people want monetary compensation in lieu of being rehabilitated in R&R colony. Collector Rayagada informed that he will be visiting the concerned village and finalizing the site for the R&R colony after a week’s time.
As a part of the Periphery development activity Adiyta Alumina had been doing some road repair work along with its sister concern Utkal alumina. However it was observed that the road work was apparently done without the explicit permission of the concerned department such as Rural development/ PWD or even the district administration. the company authorities were advised to not to take up any work on its own and in case there is a dire need and heavy demand from the people, the district administration need to be informed for an appropriate decision in this matter. Collector Rayagada requested the company authorities to provide a bus to district administration, which will operate it on the Rayagada -Kashipur route under the banner of the Regional Transport Authority, Rayagada.
There was a demand from the representatives of the displaced and the project affected people for medical services from the company's side. The CEO of Aditya Alumina informed the house that the work for 50 seated hospital in this area is in progress, after the completion of which they will be in a position to provide reasonably good health services to the people of the locality.
On the Koraput side there is a peculiar issue of people who were give land titles in 1975, but their possession was not recorded by the settlement authorities during settlement operation and as a result of which they are facing problems in getting their rightful entitlement as displaced or project affected persons. Collector Koraput was asked by RDC (SD) to look into the matter.
The issue of Modern high school was raised by the people, the land on which it stands need to be recorded in the name of the school for further development of the school.
One of the members remarked that there is lack of awareness among the local people especially the tribals about the entitlements prescribed by the R&R policy. RDC (SD) advised that there should be hoarding and flex boards in prominent location in the concerned area showing the salient features of the R&R policy, which should be easily legible and understandable to the people of the locality. Collector Rayagada and Koraput were asked to make arrangements for the same. The present RPDAC was constituted before the delimitation of the assembly constituencies, when the major area of project regarding the establishment of the industry and displacement of the people was coming under Laxmipur assembly constituency. However after the delimitation process, almost equal area comes in both Rayagada and Laxmipur assembly constituency. Hence there is some requirement for change in the constitution of the RPDAC. Also the decision to adopt the ZP zone member of Kakirigumma was approved in this meeting.
There was a demand from the representatives of the displaced and project affected people for the inclusion of some more members in the RPADC. RDC (SD) advised that he additional members be invited as special invitees as inclusion of more members requires approval of the government and is a time taking process.
After the meeting the RDC (SD) met the delegations of people from the project area and heard their grievances and assured prompt action on their issues.
( Photos courtesy,Sri. Nagaraju Bhallamudi, Enadu)
