No complaint before Shunglu committee

Bhopal, Mar 09: The various allegations thrown to the State Government on Relief and Rehabilitation work of SSP have no feet to move as high power Shunglu committee after scanning the rehabilitation work done in the State found nothing irregular in its report.

It may be mentioned here that amid similar allegations Government of India (GoI) had constituted a high power committee under the chairmanship of former Comptroller and Auditor General of India VK Shunglu to scan the rehabilitation work of SSP. The committee comprises of two members Prof. GK Chaddha and Dr Jaiprakash Narayan. This committee had deployed National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) for the hundred percent survey of rehabilitated families in Madhya Pradesh.

The Committee after analyzing the conclusions of survey, stated in its report that ground realities incorporated with that of Action Taken Report of the State Government. However the Committee in its report had put some suggestions like up gradation of rehabilitation sites, speeding up the disposal of applications pending with grievance redresal authority etc. The compliance on the suggestions of the Committee had been taken on top priority.

It is also baseless to say that State Government is not allotting residential plots to oustees as per Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award (NWDT) and giving only cash. The fact is that 22,438 displaced families had already been allotted plots of 90 x 60 ft. size free of charge in various rehabilitation sites. There was option for displaced family to take the residential plot or Rs.50, 000 in lieu of plot. The State Government had extended the entitlement of residential plots to the adult sons of the family too. Since the plot size is quite sufficient for a joint family, the other entities generally go to take Rs.50, 000 in place of plot. Some 7, 806 persons had chosen to take cash.

The displaced families whose more than 25 per cent agricultural land comes under submergence is entitled to get land for land or Special Rehabilitation Package (SRP) to purchase land of his own choice. Out of total land for land entities only 214 families opted for land and 4, 239 families opted for SRP. With the intension that farmers must use the SRP amount in purchase of land only, the disbursement of SRP was made in two installments. First, before the purchase of land and second, after submitting land purchase registry documents. Both the installments had been paid to the farmers by account payee cheques. However, in some cases farmers produced fake documents for release of second installment. The Government has taken the issue seriously and insuring lawful action against those involved in the matter. So far 13 Government employees had been put under suspension and departmental inquiry is imposed upon them.