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Ranchi, Oct. 15: Ongoing irrigation projects facing resistance from locals can now be completed on time with the cabinet today approving a resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) policy for land losers and landless displaced as well.
The new R&R policy mooted by the water resources department guarantees land and house for all, including the landless displaced, as well as preference in Class III and IV jobs.
Those losing their land will be given 12.5 decimal plots to build a house at a new venue and another Rs 1.50 lakh towards construction costs. If they are not willing to settle at the proposed new venue, they will be given Rs 2 lakh towards the land price.
Similarly, landless displaced families will be given 5 decimal plots to build a house and another Rs 1.50 lakh towards construction costs. If they refuse to settle in the rehabilitation area, they will be given Rs 1 lakh as land price.
The settlers will be given Rs 10,000 per annum towards conveyance allowance as often, villagers refuse to shift citing reasons of inconvenience in going to their workplace.
The new colonies will have proper roads and drainage, transportation facilities, health centres, toilets, places of worship, community hall, etc.
Displaced families will also be given sustenance allowance to the tune of Rs 3,000 per month for two years. The sustenance allowance will be effective from the exact date of displacement. The land losers will be extended financial assistance to the tune of Rs 2.25 lakh for self employment and skill development training programmes and the landless people will be given Rs 1 lakh.
“The displaced families, both land donors and landless people will be given preference in Class III and IV jobs, provided the applicants fulfil other basic criteria needed for the job. Such families whose main source of livelihood is agro-based, will be given proper attention,” said cabinet coordination department principal secretary N.N. Pandey.
He confirmed that 17,588 families would be displaced by the Subernarekha Multipurpose Project alone. Over Rs 775 crore will be spent on their rehabilitation. The Batane project involves displacement of 1,047 families and Rs 41.79 crore has been earmarked for rehabilitation there and Punasi water reservoir projects encompasses displacement of 606 families and Rs 29.44 crore will be spent for them.
Another Rs 860 crore will be spent on rehabilitation of families displaced by other important irrigation projects like Kans, Sonua, Suru, Bhairwa and Panchkhero. Most of these projects have made considerable progress, but their ground works have been stalled by protests.
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