NHRC Seeks report from the U.P. Government on its plan to relocate and rehabilitate persons affected due to land acquisition for Reliance Power Project
The National Human Rights Commission took cognizance of a complaint of unprovoked lathicharge, firing and pelting of stones by the police on 7th and 8th July-2006 on the villagers of Ghaziabad District who were protesting against acquisition of their farm-lands and habitats in the name of mega development project. As per the petition submitted by Justice Rajender Sachar, former President PUCL, and others, the land of seven villages in Ghaziabad district measuring about 2500 acres was acquired by the State for the Reliance Power Project in Dadri. The affected villagers were awarded a meager compensation of Rs. 150/- per sq.yard for their lands though the prevailing price was somewhere around Rs. 500/- sq.yard. It is alleged that when the villagers on realizing the unfair deal meted out to them indulged in protests, the Chief Minister, UP assured them that they would get compensation at the rate of 300 per sq. yard. However, the promise was not fulfilled. Upon which the villagers resorted to peaceful protest. During the course of protest they were beaten by the police injuring several villagers.
Two more petitions by - Dr. Vandana Shiva, Founder Director, Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, New Delhi and by Ms. Meera Singh Sengar, State General Secretary, UP Mahila Congress (I) Committee were also received by the Commission in this regard.
Taking cognizance of the complaint, the Commission sought a factual report from the Chief Secretary and DGP, UP as also a response from the DM on the allegations of police highhandedness.
Even as the response of the State Government was awaited, Shri V.P.Singh and others visited the Commission on September 19, 2006 and submitted a petition alleging another incident which took place on September 17, 2006, in which more than 15 people including women and old persons suffered serious injuries. The petitioners requested NHRC to send its inquiry team to inquire into the events of 7th & 8th July 2006 and also of 17th September-2006 to fix the responsibility and initiate action against the police officials found guilty. The Commission while considering all the petitions submitted before it observed that it appears that genesis of the alleged incidents, as per the allegations in the complaints, lies in the acquisition of land/habitats of the villagers for a mega power project. The complaints raise a serious issue relating to relocation and rehabilitation of the persons displaced by the project. The Commission thus requested the Chief Secretary, UP to furnish, within six weeks, whether any plan had been formulated for compensation and rehabilitation of the persons dislocated from their habitats/lands for mega development projects, and if so, whether any plan had been formulated for relocation and rehabilitation of the persons affected by the acquisition of land for Reliance Power Project.
The Commission also forwarded copies of all the complaints and the fact finding report received by it, to the DGP UP, DM Ghaziabad and SSP concerned to personally look into the matter and submit a detailed report within four weeks.
Two more petitions by - Dr. Vandana Shiva, Founder Director, Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, New Delhi and by Ms. Meera Singh Sengar, State General Secretary, UP Mahila Congress (I) Committee were also received by the Commission in this regard.
Taking cognizance of the complaint, the Commission sought a factual report from the Chief Secretary and DGP, UP as also a response from the DM on the allegations of police highhandedness.
Even as the response of the State Government was awaited, Shri V.P.Singh and others visited the Commission on September 19, 2006 and submitted a petition alleging another incident which took place on September 17, 2006, in which more than 15 people including women and old persons suffered serious injuries. The petitioners requested NHRC to send its inquiry team to inquire into the events of 7th & 8th July 2006 and also of 17th September-2006 to fix the responsibility and initiate action against the police officials found guilty. The Commission while considering all the petitions submitted before it observed that it appears that genesis of the alleged incidents, as per the allegations in the complaints, lies in the acquisition of land/habitats of the villagers for a mega power project. The complaints raise a serious issue relating to relocation and rehabilitation of the persons displaced by the project. The Commission thus requested the Chief Secretary, UP to furnish, within six weeks, whether any plan had been formulated for compensation and rehabilitation of the persons dislocated from their habitats/lands for mega development projects, and if so, whether any plan had been formulated for relocation and rehabilitation of the persons affected by the acquisition of land for Reliance Power Project.
The Commission also forwarded copies of all the complaints and the fact finding report received by it, to the DGP UP, DM Ghaziabad and SSP concerned to personally look into the matter and submit a detailed report within four weeks.