(a) whether the Government plans to provide employment to one member of each family displaced by National Water Project;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has sanctioned any jobs under this category till date; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) to (d) The Water Resources Projects are planned, funded, executed and maintained by the concerned State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priority. The land acquisition (LA) and Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) works of such projects are also carried out by the concerned State Governments. In order to supplement their efforts, Government of India provides technical and financial assistance to encourage sustainable development and efficient management of water resources through various schemes and programmes.
Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP), declared as National Project under Section 90 of Andhra Pradesh Re-organization Act-2014, is being implemented by an Authority [Polavaram Project Authority (PPA)] constituted by DoWR, RD & GR (MoJS) through State Govt of Andhra Pradesh. The works of LA and R&R are being carried out by the State Govt.
In this regard, PPA has informed that, so far, 3922 Project Displaced Families (PDFs) have been rehabilitated as per GoAP “Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy 2005”. In the said policy, there was no provision for employment to PDFs. Further, after enactment of Right to Fair compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement Act, 2013(Act No. 30/2013), the following provision has been made at Clause-4 of Second Schedule of the said Act:
“4. Choice of Annuity or Employment: The appropriate Government shall ensure that the affected families are provided with the following options :
a) where jobs are created to the project, after providing suitable training and skill development in the required field, make provision for employment at a rate not lower than the minimum wages provided for in any other law for the time being in force, to at least one member per affected family in the project or arrange for a job in such other project as may be required; (OR)
b) Onetime payment of Rs. 5.00 lakh per affected family; (OR)
c) Annuity policy that shall pay not less than two thousand rupees per month per family for twenty years with appropriate indexation to the Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Laborers.”
The Government of Andhra Pradesh has informed that option of providing Rs.5.00 Lakh to each of family the balance PDF sunder Polavaram Irrigation Project is envisaged.
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