Sambalpur, August 2: Over 200 families displaced for the Hirakud Dam project were distributed land pattas in the first phase on Thursday after a long wait of six decades.
A special programme was held at Kurla village in Rengali block of Sambalpur district for this graced by Odisha Revenue Minister Suresh Puajri.
Recently, during a meeting at Bargarh on June 30, Puajri had announced that Hirakud Dam displaced will be given land patta at the earliest.
In the first phase, many as 168 beneficiaries from Kurla village and 53 from Thuti Katarbaga village received pattas for 10 decimals of homestead land each from Pujari. The minister assured that more land pattas would be distributed in upcoming phases. “We are committed to providing land pattas to all displaced families within five years.” Pujari asserted.
The Hirakud dam project was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru on January 13, 1957. Reportedly, at least 26,501 families were affected due to the construction of the dam and as many as 16,934 applications for homestead land were submitted by the displaced families in Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundargarh and Bargarh districts.
The displaced families were assured 10 decimal homestead lands as compensation by the former BJD government in 2002, but on-vain.
