NHRC apprehends more rights violations in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Jan 19 (PTI) NHRC today expressed fearsthat more human right violation cases will come up in Orissaas the state has embarked on an industrialisation drive thathas led to signing of around 90 agreements.

"As Orissa is emerging as an industralised state, weapprehend more cases of human rights violation cases," NHRCChairperson Justice K G Balakrishnan told reporters here afterthe two-day camp sitting of the Commission.

Stating that a number of rights violation casesrelating to displacement, employment, environment and othersmight come up during the establishment of industries, JusticeBalakrishnan said the Commission had received right violationallegations relating to industries being set up by Vedanta,Posco and Tata.

"In the matter of Vedanta, the Commission took astrong note on the land acquisition policy of the stategovernment and directed that all the affected persons shouldbe rehabilitated," he said.

Stating that the NHRC was keeping a "watch" on theVedanta''s proposed mining project, Justice Balakrishnan saidthat the Commission had asked its special rapporteur toexamine the action taken report of the state government.

Vedanta has two projects at Lanjigarh in Kalahandidistrict. While the company has already established a refineryproject at Lanjigarh, it had proposed the Rs 5,000-crorebauxite mining project (which had been rejected by theMinistry of environment and forest) in the district.

On allegations of rights violation in Tata and Poscoprojects, the NHRC Chairman said, "The state government hasbeen directed to submit a comprehensive report onrehabilitation and compensation status of the displacedpeople."

The Commission observed that steps must be taken torehabilitate the affected people.