Compensation paid

Bokaro, July 25: Justice delayed is not always denied.

After waiting for more than four decades, 10,312 applicants in 18 villages who gave 29,000 acres for the establishment of Bokaro Steel Limited, will finally get compensation of around Rs 300 crore. The seven-day camps to identify displaced persons, led by Bokaro district deputy commissioner Amitabh Kaushal, will start from tomorrow.

This move comes after an order from Jharkhand High Court Justice D.N. Patel on July 21. In a hearing of R.K Das versus state of Jharkhand and others (WPC 4031/2011), Justice Patel directed Bokaro district and steel plant authorities to identify bona fide displaced persons and award compensation to them.

Bokaro steel plant started operating from mid-1960s with Soviet Union collaboration.

Kaushal has convened six camps between July 26 and August 3 at held at different villages. Six land acquisition officials, including deputy collector (land records) Sandip Kumar, will identify persons eligible for compensation.

As per Saturday’s agreement between Bokaro district and steel plant, compensation slabs are Rs 8,000 per acre for fertile land, Rs 6,000 for others and an additional 15 per cent interest per annum since the plots were acquired.

Sandip Kumar said the job involved meeting persons at camps; identification of legal heirs by panchayat sevak, mukhiya or similar person, and finally, disbursal of compensation. “The process will take six months. Transparency is vital as huge sums are involved,” said Kaushal.

On the list are 429 applicants at Sangjori, 2,970 at Mahuar, 1,985 at Harla, 518 at Asonsol, 1,626 at Bharra, 172 at Nohra, 122 at Kairakundi, 35 at Chak Pandeydih, 452 at Maheshpur, 144 at Ranipokhar, 120 at Jolhabandh, 29 at Palbahiar, 73 at Baidmara, 268 at Kanphatta, 28 at Dhandabar, 23 at Bhatua, 506 at Pathkatta and 13 at Tilabani.

Though the actual number is 9,513, the number of applicants is taken as 10,312 because in many cases, more than one person has applied.