ET recently reported that the Indian National Human Rights Commission on January 19th 2011 directed the Orissa government to submit a comprehensive report on rehabilitation and compensation status of the people displaced by TATA Steel project at Kalinga Nagar and POSCO India steel project near Paradip in Jagatsinghpur.

The Commission also asked the state administration a report on the rehabilitation of the people who were affected the Vedanta Aluminium Limited’s refinery project in the backward Kalahandi district in western Orissa.

The Commission issued the above directions while disposing a number of petitions by individuals and civil society organizations on alleged improper execution of rehabilitation packages.

The Commission took serious exception to the land acquisition policy of the state in matters of Vedanta and sought a full fledged report on the issue.

Speaking to reporters after two days of hearing, chairperson of the NRHC Justice Mr KG Balkrishnan said the commission has asked the state government to ensure that each evicted person was given land for land and adequate livelihood security.

Justice Balkrishnan said that “We advised the state government to given land for land for the industrially displaced people and make sure that the affected people are given sustainable source of income.”

(Sourced from ET)