New Delhi, July 13: Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), the country's first muti-purpose river valley project, is under fire from the topmost Right to Information (RTI) panel for its "disheartening" treatment of land oustees who have "sacrificed" their land for power infrastrusture.
The scathing observations against the DVC came in the light of its alleged denial of rehabilitation to a physically-disabled person whose 20-acre land was acquired on the promise of a Rs 3 lakh compensation
and alternative employment.
Mohammed Rafique Ansari of Pakdih village in Jamtara district of Jharkhand appealed to the Central Information Commission (CIC) against "discrimination" shown by the corporation in not giving him the
"promised" job as he was unable to pay a bribe to DVC officials.
Information Commissioner M M Ansari observed that Rafique's case indicated that the DVC had "so far failed in the promotion of corporate social responsibility".
The DVC which came into being on July 7, 1948 on the strength of a Constituent Assembly Act had its initial focus on flood control, irrigation, generation, transmission and distribution of electricity,
eco-conservation and afforestation, as well as job creation for the socio-economic well-being of people residing in and around areas affected by its projects. However, over the past few decades, power generation had gained priority.
The Bench criticised the corporation for concentrating solely on
development of infrastrusture, mainly power, without no regard for the
welfare of land oustees, who are "marginalised or pushed to worse-off
economic conditions".
"While the DVC may have made significant contribution to the process
of development of infrastructure, mainly power, it has also
contributed to the marginalisation of displaced persons/land oustees,
who have sacrificed their land for DVC's project," the Bench said in a
recent judgment.
Demanding an expla nation from the Public Information Officer of the
DVC as to why he should not be made liable to pay Rs 25,000 as fine,
the CIC made clear its disapproval that the corporation had not
"adhered to the principles of equity and justice in pursuing its
objectives of providing critical services, namely power."
...
by Krishnadas Rajagopal, Indian Express, Monday, July 14, 2008
Post new comment