Lok Sabha Question No. 3631 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-23
Subject: Rehabilitation of Project Affected Families
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: SUKENDER REDDY GUTHA, BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB, Y. S. AVINASH REDDY, V. PANNEER SELVAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3631

ANSWERED ON 23.03.2017

## REHABILITATION OF PROJECT AFFECTED FAMILIES

## 3631. SHRI GUTHA SUKENDER REDDY SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY SHRI V. PANNEERSELVAM

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a) the existing monitoring mechanism to ensure that the State Governments resettle/rehabilitate the displaced persons affected due to irrigation projects in the country and the due compensation is paid to them;

(b) the number of such affected persons/families including dalits and backward classes in the country and the number  out  of  them  rehabilitated  and  paid  compensation  during  the  last  as  well  as  current  plan  period, State/project-wise along with the reasons for not rehabilitating and making compensation to all the affected ones;

(c)  the  number  and  nature  of  complaints/representations  received  by  the  Union  Government  from  such persons/ families including dalits and backward classes on various issues pertaining to their grievances relating to various projects including Sardar Sarovar and Polavaram during the said period, State/UT-wise along with the present status of such complaints; and

(d)  the  other  steps taken/being taken by the Union Government to address their issues and ensure adequate compensation to such persons/families along with their proper and timely rehabilitation?

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  WATER  RESOURCES,  RIVER  DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

## (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) to (d) Water Resources projects are planned and implemented by the respective State Governments. Further, the  concerned  State  Government  and  Project  Authorities  make  assessment  of  number  of  people/families displaced  due  to  such  projects  and  formulate  and  implement  project-wise  Rehabilitation  and  Resettlement (R&R) Plans. To facilitate this process, Union Government has issued National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy  2007  (NRRP-2007)  and  'Right  to  Fair  Compensation  and  Transparency  in  Land  Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013' for smooth implementation of R&R action plan in respect of Project Affected Families. However, Compensation for project affected people is decided by the project authorities as per existing R&R policy of Centre/State whichever is more beneficial.

Further, a National monitoring committee for Rehabilitation and resettlement has been constituted to review and monitor the implementation of rehabilitation and resettlement schemes or plans under NRRP-2007 and Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.The committee so far has held 5 meetings. Further, in this regard the details in respect of Sardar Sarovar Project & Polavaram Project are at Annexure.

(Annexure  as  referred  to  in  reply  to  Part  (a)  to  (d)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.3631  for  reply  on 23.03.2017 regarding Rehabilitation of Projects Affected Families).

## (a) SardarSarovar Project:

##  Status of Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R):

| Dam Height   | State          |   No. of Villages Affected |   Total Project Affected Families(PAFs) |   Total PAFs resettled |
|--------------|----------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------------------|------------------------|
|              | Gujarat        |                         19 |                                    4761 |                   4761 |
|              | Maharashtra    |                         33 |                                    4343 |                   4163 |
| 138.68 m     | Madhya Pradesh |                        192 |                                   37754 |                  37754 |

##  Monitoring & grievance addressing mechanism:

- i. The  grievances  of  PAFs  are  being  addressed  by  grievance  redressal  authorities  (GRAs)  of  respective  State Governments. These GRAs are headed by retired Judges of High Court.
- ii. The Narmada Control Authority (NCA) is mandated for the monitoring of R&R activity related to SardarSarovar Project  (SSP)  -  an  interstate  project.  Accordingly  NCA  has  constituted  R&R  sub-group  chaired  by  Secretary  to Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with representatives from the NCA, party States and experts as member to ensure that the concerned State Governments(Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat) resettle/rehabilitate the displaced persons and the due compensation is paid to them as per NWDT Award and orders of grievance redressal authorities/courts.

## (b) Polavaram Irrigation Project (PPA):

##  Status of Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R):

Submergence of 370 habitations in 221 revenue villages in Andhra Pradesh, displacing about 1,88,012 persons in 55,799 Project Affected Families (PAFs). Out of 370 habitations, rehabilitation of 14 habitations under 1st and 2nd Phases has been carried out so far and compensation has been paid as per the entitlement.

##  Monitoring & grievance addressing mechanism:

- i. Under Section 44 of the RFCT LARR Act 2013, Commissioner (R&R), Andhra Pradesh has been appointed and is  responsible  for  supervising  the  formulation  of  R&R  schemes  or  plans  and  proper  implementation  of  such schemes or plans.
- ii. Under Sub-section (1) of Section 50 of 'The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCT LARR) Act 2013', Government of Andhra Pradesh has constituted a 'State Monitoring Committee for Rehabilitation and Resettlement'
- iii. Project Administrators of East and West Godavari Districts are the Chairperson of Grievance Redressal cells at the district level and Commissioner (R&R), Govt. of Andhra Pradesh is the appellate authority at the State level.