SAMBALPUR: Demolition of houses continues for the Samaleswari Project-II in Sambalpur, amid people’s concerns over compensation and rehabilitation.
Thirty five-year-old Debaki Raut, who is seven months pregnant and a widow with three minor children under the age of 10, faces the prospect of losing her home without receiving any compensation. She said she has been left out of the compensation process despite her house being acquired for the project. “Where will I go with my three children without any money?” she asked.
Debaki said she and her husband had moved to her parental village around 2019 following the death of her father. Neither of them was present when a project survey was conducted in the area, she claimed. She later found compensation had been sanctioned in the names of her mother-in-law and brother-in-law, but not in her name. She claimed her brother-in-law has already received the compensation. She is worried about what will happen to her and her children once the house is demolished.
A similar dispute has left Purnabasi Dalbehera (75) dependent on her daughters to pursue her claim. A widow with four daughters, Purnabasi has difficulty hearing and communicating.
Her daughter Lakshmi Pradhan said one of her sisters and brother-in-law were living with Purnabasi when the project survey was conducted in 2019. The son-in-law allegedly got his name recorded as the owner of the house. He later left the family. She also claimed he returned after learning about the demolition notice and took the rehabilitation compensation before leaving again.
The two cases were raised before Sambalpur sub-collector Pushpanjali Panda on Tuesday by a delegation of project-affected families led by Progressive Sambalpur convener Sanjit Mohanty. The sub-collector assured the delegation she would examine the matter and take steps to ensure the eligible beneficiary receives due relief.
The delegation also urged the administration to follow the principle of “rehabilitation first, displacement later” and sought a suspension of demolition till Dussehra.
Officials said eligible landless families would be considered for land under the Vasundhara scheme, while beneficiaries eligible under the Jaga Mission would be considered for land at Chaurpur. Land has also been proposed for eligible families at Saletika under the Sasan RI circle.
Sambalpur tehsildar Abhijit Mohanty said 135 identified families have received compensation, while 124 houses have been demolished so far. However, another 75 families are yet to accept the compensation. Official sources said at least 263 houses have been identified for demolition to pave the way for Phase-II of the project.