Keonjhar: Expressing concern over the plight of people displaced by the Kanpur irrigation project in the district, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued directives to the chief secretary to furnish compliance report within four weeks.

Acting on a petition moved by rights activist Radhakant Tripathy, the rights panel warned the state government of coercive action if the government agency did not pay heed to its directions.

"Let a final reminder be issued to the chief secretary directing him to submit the requisite report within four weeks positively - failing which the commission would be constrained to secure the same through his personal appearance under Section 13 of the PHR Act," said Tripathy, quoting the latest NHRC order in this regard.

The government is still silent on the resettlement of people, who are getting displaced because of the irrigation project. Their rehabilitation does not seem to stay on the government's agenda. Lack of basic infrastructure and deprivation of bare necessities of life are disturbing features in the area wherein the poverty-stricken tribal and Dalit villagers would be rendered homeless following the absence of social security scheme for the would-be-oustees, the petition said.

No comprehensive report has been prepared with regard to the land acquisition in accordance with the government's rehabilitation and resettlement policy. The district administration is yet to convene the rehabilitation and peripheral development advisory committee meeting to address the issue, it iterated.