Onus is on corporate houses

BHUBANESWAR: Even as acquisition of land remains the biggest hurdle for mega industrial projects, the State Government has amended the norms regarding record of rights of resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) colonies meant for the displaced. The idea is to make corporate houses responsible for maintenance of the assets in the colonies for a longer period. The latest guidelines say community assets in the R&R colonies such as schools, anganwadi centres, nurseries, health institutions, play and burial grounds will have to be maintained by the project authorities for at least 15 years or until they are transferred to a Government department. On completion of the 15 years, the respective Government agencies will take responsibility of the institutions created in the R&R Colony. However, until the transfer of assets to another agency, the project authorities will continue to maintain it at their cost. The Revenue and Disaster Management Department has specified that masterplan for the rehabilitation colony has to be approved by the collector concerned. The land, where individual plots are proposed to be allotted inside the colony, will continue to be in government khata and the area earmarked for common facilities will be leased out for 15 years in favour of the project authorities or Idco. If the lease is sanctioned in favour of Idco, the agency will give the area to the project authorities on sub-lease. It will be the duty of the project authorities to develop the individual plots and common facilities and keep the project director informed of the progress. Only after getting the go-ahead of the project director, the tehsildar will sanction lease in favour of the displaced families. The  leased land is not transferable for 20 years without approval of the collector. The Department, in a circular to all RDCs, collectors and director, Land Records, has stated that for each project, which involves displacement, the project authorities will have to prepare a master plan showing details of the area to be allotted to individual oustees as well as for common facilities. The Government has prescribed guidelines for procedures to be followed where sanction of lease has been made and lease has been executed and where lease has not been executed.