BHUBANESWAR: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) authorities are in a fix after hundreds of people who were shifted from their habitations close to the missile test facility at Chandipur off the Odisha coast returned home prior to the test. They are not satisfied with the compensation given to them.
Whenever DRDO tests a missile, local people are displaced for a day and paid a compensation. It tests 10-15 missile tests a year. On Wednesday, DRDO was to carry out the maiden test of a state-of-the-art medium range surface-to-air missile developed jointly with Israel from launching complex III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea. It was postponed for technical reasons.
Ahead of the test, sources said, 3,652 persons including women and children from Khadupahi, Kusumulipahi, Jaydevkasaba Pahi, Luni Pahi, Bhimpurpahi and Sahaza Nagar Pahi were shifted to two temporary shelters in the morning ahead of the missile test.
They were kept in a cyclone shelter near the Khadupahi school and a temporary camp at Na'mile ghat.
However, when local revenue officials started distributing the compensation amount, the relocated residents refused to accept it, saying it was less than what was promised. DRDO sought to pay Rs 200 per adult and Rs 100 per child. The residents wanted Rs 300 and Rs 200 respectively. One resident of Khadupahi, Manishankar Das (35) said a daily-wager would get at least Rs 300 a day. "When we are shifted from our habitations and not allowed to work within a 2.5 km radius of the test range, we have to idle in the camp the entire day. They should compensate us accordingly," he said.
Another resident, Srimanta Das (65) said earlier DRDO would make good arrangements at the temporary camps with food or a food allowance. "But this time that has stopped."
According to Ministry of Defence (MoD) rules, adults are paid Rs 250 each, and children Rs 145 each. This includes food expenses at the Rs 35 per adult and child, and 'entertainment cost' of Rs 15 and Rs 10 respectively. The collector of Balasore, Pramod Kumar Das said each displaced family is given Rs 30 for a lock and Rs 60 for fodder for their cattle. Das explained that the residents were not aware of these additional benefits. They relented after officials explained it to them.