Orissa cabinet approves new RR policy for projects

Bhubaneswar, Apr 22 (UNI) The Orissa Cabinet today approved the much-awaited Resettlement and Rehabilitation (RR) Policy 2006 for various Industrial and Irrigation projects in the state, providing better compensation package for the displaced people in the state.

Briefing mediapersons after the cabinet meeting, State Chief Secretary Subash Pani said the new policy, considered to be one of the best in the country, has enhanced the compensation amount for the land and house building assistance, cash compensation for self employment and assured job to one member of the affected family.

The Cabinet, presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, also formulated special package for the mega steel plant by the South Korean Steel major POSCO in Paradip and various plants coming in Kalinga Nagar Industrial Complex, which witnessed a bloody clash between the police and tribals leading to death of 13 tribals in police firing on January 2.

The Chief Secretary said in case related to POSCO project, the government would enhance the compensation amount fixed by the new RR policy for the industrial projects and provide Rs 6000 for 10 decimal of betel vines cultivated by the people, irrespective of the land owned by the government or the cultivator, with a minimum compensation fixed at Rs 10,000.

Similarly, for the projects in Kalinga Nagar, ex gratia amount would be increased to Rs 50,000 per acre of land acquired from the affected people in 1992.

The state government had paid Rs 51,000 per acre of acquired land in the area in 1992 and last year decided to give Rs 25,000 as ex-gratia to the people per acre of land.

As per the new RR policy, any person in a family, unmarried sister and daughter above 30 years, physically and mentally challenged people, widow, divorcee woman would be treated as a family and receive the cash compensation.

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