Kalinganagar RPDAC Reviews Rehabilitation of Displaced Families, Stresses Local Employment .

Jajpur, 13/11(PPT): November 13: The ninth meeting of the Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) for the Kalinganagar industrial area was held on Friday under the chairmanship of Sudhanshu Mohan Samal, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central), Cuttack, to review rehabilitation measures, address the grievances of displaced families and assess infrastructure development in rehabilitation colonies.

Cooperation, Handloom, Textiles and Handicrafts Minister and Sukinda MLA Pradeep Bal Samanta, Jajpur MP Dr Rabindra Narayan Behera, District Collector and Magistrate Ambar Kumar Kar, Danagadi Panchayat Samiti chairperson Archana Das and Sukinda Panchayat Samiti chairman Dibyaranjan Baral attended the meeting. The District Collector, who is also the member-convenor of the RPDAC, delivered the welcome address. Representatives of 14 displaced and affected families, 65 industrial units and 10 self-help groups and voluntary organisations, besides officials from various departments, participated in the deliberations.

The meeting reviewed the status of rehabilitation and resettlement, livelihood opportunities for displaced families, basic amenities in rehabilitation colonies and pending grievances. The availability, development and maintenance of essential infrastructure in seven rehabilitation colonies, including roads, drinking water facilities, Anganwadi centres, community centres, cremation and burial grounds, playgrounds and ponds, also came up for discussion. Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta stressed the need for urgent resolution of issues concerning land, local employment, drinking water, roads and electricity. He said the basic concerns of displaced people must be addressed without delay.

RPDAC chairman Samal directed industrial establishments to undertake plantation drives in earnest to increase green cover in the Kalinganagar industrial belt. He also called for regular water sprinkling and road cleaning to control dust pollution and advised industries to increase expenditure under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives for the overall welfare of displaced families and surrounding communities. Representatives of affected families raised concerns over employment opportunities in industrial units and the pace of development in rehabilitation colonies and adjoining areas. Members also stressed the need to hold RPDAC meetings at regular intervals in accordance with the Odisha Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy. The meeting concluded with an emphasis on coordinated efforts among government departments and industrial establishments to ensure timely implementation of development projects and improve the living conditions of displaced and affected families. Additional District Magistrate, Kalinganagar, Sapan Kumar Nanda, proposed the vote of thanks.