Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday launched a special rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) package worth Rs 75.60 crore for 1,371 Nolia families displaced from Golabandha in Ganjam district, bringing to an end a decades-old wait for rehabilitation.
The package was announced at a special programme held at Golabandha, where the chief minister also distributed land and house pattas to 96 of the 112 families displaced by the Cheligada Medium Irrigation Project in the first phase.
Women from Golabandha welcomed Majhi by tying rakhis before he handed over land pattas to beneficiaries on the stage.
Addressing the gathering, Majhi said the plight of Golabandha’s displaced residents had remained unresolved for more than four decades following the transfer of land for the Army Air Defence College in 1984.
He said his government had accorded priority to the issue and was working to provide permanent rehabilitation and secure rights to the affected families.
Under the special package, each of the 1,371 eligible families will receive a one-time assistance of Rs 5 lakh through direct benefit transfer (DBT) to support economic self-reliance. The total allocation for this component is Rs 68.55 crore.
Another Rs 4.25 crore has been earmarked for housing assistance. The amount will be used to complete 998 incomplete houses and construct 10 new houses.
More than Rs 2.80 crore has also been sanctioned for infrastructure development at the new Kirtipur Colony, including roads, street lighting, an anganwadi centre, market complex, public toilets, cyclone shelters and beach levelling facilities for fishing boats.
The chief minister also highlighted the rehabilitation of families displaced by the Cheligada project. The 112 families are being resettled at Santrapur in Digapahandi, with each family entitled to 10 decimals of homestead land and two acres of agricultural land. Pattas for 96 families were distributed on Thursday, while the remaining beneficiaries will receive them shortly.
Majhi said the Cheligada project, scheduled for completion by the end of next year, would bring irrigation benefits to more than 6,000 hectares in Ganjam and Gajapati districts.
Speaking about development initiatives in Ganjam, the chief minister said the government was focusing on the blue economy, including renovation of the Arjipalli Fishing Harbour and development of 28 fish landing centres. He also referred to the expansion of Gopalpur Port and a proposed mega port at Bahuda, estimated to cost Rs 21,500 crore.
Investments exceeding Rs 40,000 crore through 14 projects at the Gopalpur Industrial Park are expected to generate employment for more than 18,000 young people, he said, urging the youth to acquire relevant skills as the state is projected to create over five lakh jobs in the next two years.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said fulfilling people’s aspirations remained a key objective of the government and that the Revenue Department had taken steps to expedite the long-pending rehabilitation process. He assured that facilities and opportunities would be extended to the displaced families and that there would be no unnecessary delay in distributing land pattas.
Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena said the proposed investments at Gopalpur Industrial Park and the Bahuda mega port would significantly boost employment and transform the commercial landscape of Ganjam.
MSME, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallick said the government was strengthening the marine economy through renovation of the Arjipalli Fishing Harbour and establishment of 28 fish landing centres. He also said new MSME initiatives were being implemented to promote self-reliance among women and youth.
Several MPs, MLAs, senior state government officials and district administration officials attended the programme.
