Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday announced a special rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) package of Rs 75.60 crore for 1,371 displaced families of Golabandha in Ganjam district, saying the four-decade-old dispute had finally been given a permanent solution.
The Chief Minister launched the package at a special programme in Golabandha and also distributed homestead and farmland pattas to 96 of the 112 families displaced by the Cheligada medium irrigation project.
Women of Golabandha welcomed him by tying rakhis. Later, he personally handed over land pattas to beneficiaries on stage.
What the package covers:
The government said 1,371 eligible families will get a one-time compensation of Rs 5 lakh each through Direct Benefit Transfer, totalling Rs 68.55 crore.Housing assistance of Rs 4.25 crore has been allotted to complete 998 unfinished houses and build 10 new houses, taking the housing component to 1,008 units.More than Rs 2.80 crore has been sanctioned for infrastructure in the new Kirtipur colony, including roads, street lights, an anganwadi centre, a market complex, public toilets, a cyclone shelter and beach-levelling work for parking fishing boats.Cheligada families get land titlesFamilies displaced by the Cheligada project are being rehabilitated at Santrapur in Digapahandi. Each of the 112 families is to receive 10 decimals of homestead land and two acres of farmland. Ninety-six families received pattas on Thursday; the rest will get them shortly. Majhi said the Cheligada project, once completed by the end of next year, will irrigate more than 6,000 hectares in Ganjam and Gajapati districts.
He said the Gopalpur industrial park is expected to attract investments of more than Rs 40,000 crore and create over 18,000 jobs. With more than five lakh jobs projected in the state over the next two years, he asked young people to skill themselves and prepare for the opportunities.
Ministers echo rehab push:
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the government would not tolerate delay in land-patta distribution and would complete pending rehabilitation work quickly.
Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena said 14 projects at the Gopalpur industrial park would bring over Rs 40,000 crore in investment and more than 18,000 jobs, while the Bahuda mega port would recast Ganjam’s commercial map. MSME, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallick said renovation of Arjipalli fishing harbour and 28 new fish landing centres would strengthen marine livelihoods, while MSME schemes would help local women and youth become self-reliant.
The programme was attended by Aska MP Anita Subhadarshini, Berhampur MP Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy, several MLAs from Ganjam and Gajapati, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Arabinda Padhee, Southern Revenue Divisional Commissioner Sangram Keshari Mohapatra, Ganjam Collector V. Keerthi Vasan and senior district officials.
