The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought for updated reports from the Chief Secretary of Odisha and Chhattisgarh on the issue of large scale displacement and subsequent failure of both the Governments in rehabilitation and resettlement of more than 26,000 families due to construction of the Hirakud Dam.The NHRC has also asked its Special Rapporteur BB Misra to complete an investigation and submit final investigation report to the Commission within eight weeks covering all affected areas and the ground realities.

Acting on the petition and rejoinder filed by rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, the NHRC passed the order. Explaining the  plight of the displaced victims, Tripathy stated that without proper rehabilitation and compensation, thousands of displaced families have been living amid great hardships for years.

The execution of Hirakud Dam project has submerged more than 360 villages, covering more than 123,000 acres of land and displaced more than one lakh people. About 70 years have passed, even the third generation of the victims could not get justice due to corrupt and lethargic bureaucracy, Tripathy slammed. The Government takes steps to trace and count tigers, Oilve Ridley turtles etc every year but forgets to identify the displaced victims’ families, Tripathy contended. 

The State in its report reiterated that the land was acquired for Hirakud Dam during the year 1952-53. Steps were taken from time to time to mitigate grievances of the displaced families who belong to Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh and Subarnapur. The complainant submitted that families in Raigarh and Sarguja districts of Chhattisgarh are also facing problems.