‘Odisha govt. not restoring unused land to land oustees, but building stadium on it’, say tribal activists
The Hindu
Angry land losers urge State govt not to showcase tribal traditions during Hockey World Cup 2023
Land oustees, mostly tribals, in and around Rourkela in Odisha’s Sundargarh district have rued that the State government went ahead with construction of India’s largest hockey stadium on the land which was promised to be restored to them.
Angry oustees urged the State government not to showcase tribal tradition and culture during Hockey World Cup 2023 slated to be held in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.
Odisha government had acquired around 20,983.99 acres in 33 villages to help Rourkela Steel Plant (erstwhile Hindustan Steel Limited) construct an integrated steel plant and township and other ancillaries at Rourkela and for Mandira Dam Project from 1955 -1976. In addition to that, 11,144.445 acres government land was given to RSP by State Government.
According to an answer given in Lok Sabha, the company had the paid ₹1,32,48,217 towards compensation for land acquired. The RSP had also purchased 24.23 acres of land at ₹16,079. Displaced families were rehabilitated in Jhirpani and Jalda resettlement colonies. Land oustees alleged that not all could be rehabilitated.
About 4,000 acres of land was acquired for Marshalling Yard at Bondamunda for Indian Railways. The RSP has returned about 6,000 acres of land to the State government. For decades, land oustees have been demanding restoration of unused land with the original tenants.
“Since 2006, the State government has been promising to return unused land to original tenants. It was also agreed that land losers should have the first priority on the unused land. The government is yet to keep its promise,” said Deme Oram, President of Anchalik Surakshya Committee.
Subsequently, Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management (R&DM) Minister assured to return unused land to the original recorded tenant and legal heir by amending in the existing Act.
