Jharsuguda: For the last seven decades, the problem faced by the divided families of Hirakud displaced people remains unresolved. Although the government has, on various occasions, made announcements and issued directives to provide 10 decimals of homestead land to each displaced family, these have not been implemented effectively. Consequently, displaced individuals have often been compelled to resort to agitation.
The fate of those displaced by the Hirakud Dam project has seen little improvement; they continue to suffer hardships, receiving only minimal compensation. Initially, around 26,561 families were displaced by the Hirakud Dam project. However, this number has now increased to nearly 96,000 families. Among them, 84,000 families reside across Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, and Sonepur districts of Odisha, while 16,000 families have settled in four districts of Chhattisgarh through their own efforts.
Although the government has issued various orders in favor of the displaced, these directives are not being properly executed. The government conducts annual livestock and bird census, but even after seven decades, it has failed to maintain an accurate count of the displaced population. Many families displaced in 1953 due to the Hirakud project have managed to settle through personal efforts. In the meantime, due to industrial development—especially in Jharsuguda and Sambalpur—many of these families have been displaced a second time.
As per revenue department letter number 5531/10.09.1007, all Tehsildars and District Collectors were directed to provide 10 decimals of homestead land to the displaced families. Yet, out of 84,000 families, only 4,450 have been allotted land pattas (ownership documents). In Jharsuguda district, only 1,889 families have received land—amounting to 79 acres—out of the 188 acres meant for them. The remaining 109 acres have been concealed or kept under wraps by the Tehsildars in storage facilities.
Taking note of this, the Revenue Commissioner of Western Odisha, Sambalpur, has directed the Jharsuguda Collector and Lakhanpur Tehsildar to ensure that every divided displaced family receives 10 decimals of homestead land. Loknath Sahu, President of the Hirakud Displaced Welfare Committee, Sambalpur, has long been raising this demand.
In Jharsuguda Tehsil, Mouza Bagarachaka, the land given to the late displaced individual Lura Sahu—recorded in Khata No. 104/620, Plot No. 512/147, amounting to 10 decimals—is to be officially identified as per the directive issued to the Jharsuguda Tehsildar by the RDC, Sambalpur.
In Lakhanpur Tehsil, many displaced families have been given only 4 decimals instead of the promised 10 decimals. The Lakhanpur Tehsildar, acting as the main decision-maker, has arbitrarily distributed land—giving some 3 decimals and others 4 decimals. This discriminatory practice has caused widespread dissatisfaction among the displaced. As a result, many affected families have now approached the High Court seeking justice.
The Hirakud Dam project, built on the Mahanadi River, submerged about four lakh acres of land, including nearly one lakh acres belonging to Scheduled Castes. Over one lakh families were forcefully evicted from their ancestral homes and means of livelihood in a highly inhuman manner, all in the name of national and societal interest.
The government has utterly failed to ensure complete resettlement. Due to administrative neglect and lack of sincerity, many displaced people still remain without official land pattas. Loknath Sahu, President of the Hirakud Displaced Welfare Committee, has expressed deep resentment over this injustice.
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