Bhubaneswar,19th Aug 2025: Accurate data regarding displacement due to the Hirakud Dam project is still not fully available with the government. Various documents are being reviewed to ensure displaced people receive all benefits under government policies. The 2025 Resettlement & Rehabilitation (R&R) Policy is expected to be announced very soon, with a House Committee already formed to oversee its implementation.
Under the new policy:
- Land will be provided to affected individuals, giving priority to severely affected tribal communities.
- Government land will be allocated to ensure minimum displacement.
- Land held by non-implementing agencies will be retrieved and returned to the displaced families.
- The Hirakud Dam reservoir level has dropped from 632 ft to 630 ft, resulting in large tracts of land becoming available. This land is planned to be distributed among displaced persons.
Additionally:
Land previously allotted for industrial or educational projects, such as the 6,000-acre land near Puri-Konark for Vedanta University, has been reclaimed and returned to government control.
Companies holding mining leases will be required to make land available to displaced families.
Local administration has also started employing displaced youth in various districts, including Jharsuguda, to provide livelihoods.