Renuka dam oustees reluctant to submit 'landless' affidavit

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, January 10

Renukaji Dam oustees are opposing the decision of the Revenue Department to seek affidavits from them declaring that they are landless after surrendering their land for the project.

The Rs 6,946 crore dam, the foundation stone of which was laid by the Prime Minister recently, is slated to solve the decades-old drinking water woes of Delhi and the National Capital Region.

As the Revenue Department is preparing the list of project affected families, affidavits are being sought from the oustees to work out their compensation and rehabilitation. Once the list of affected families is finalised, it will be notified and the dam authorities will allot land, houses or both, as per the norms, to the affected families.

However, the oustees contend that it is not possible for them to provide such an affidavit. The acquisition of land for the construction of the dam may have rendered them landless but they can inherit family land. Furnishing such an affidavit can land them in legal wrangles.

They have also raised doubts at the social impact assessment carried out for their relief and rehabilitation, terming it contrary to their interests. The Shri Renuka Dam Jan Sangharsh Samiti alleges that the organisation, which was entrusted the task, merely did a cursory exercise. “The organisation failed to make a true assessment of the problems which the residents of submerged areas will face, creating discrepancies in the subsequent relief and rehabilitation policy chalked out by the dam management,” says Yogender Kapila, samiti president.

Kapila contends that the amount of grant worked out is very less and it should be amended. Those who have tilled land in the area, which will be submerged, should be granted the status of fully displaced families without seeking any affidavit.

The oustees also demand that those who have been tilling land of other people for generations should also be considered being displaced.

Deputy Commissioner, Sirmaur, RK Gautam, says, “It has come to my notice that the dam oustees are showing reluctance to submit affidavits and we are trying to sort out of the matter. The Revenue Department staff has been directed to expedite the work to identify project affected families for their early relief and rehabilitation”.  

List of affected families being prepared

• The Revenue Department is preparing the list of project affected families, and affidavits are being sought from the oustees to work out relief and rehabilitation
• Once the list of affected families is finalised, it will be notified and the dam authorities will allot land, houses or both to the affected families.

Trying to sort out matter: DC

It has come to my notice that the dam oustees are showing reluctance to submit affidavits and we are trying to sort out of the matter. The Revenue Department staff has been directed to expedite the work to identify project affected families for their early relief and rehabilitation. — RK Gautam, Deputy Commissioner, Sirmaur