Question : REHABILITATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS

(a) whether the Government has formulated any policy for providing adequate compensation to the persons whose lands were acquired for setting up various public sector steel plants including the Bokaro Steel Plant within certain time-frame;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the number of family displaced due to the acquisition of land undertaken for setting up of Bokaro Steel Plant;

(d) the number of persons from displaced families who have been provided employment by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and the number of cases which are pending before the concerned authorities; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide employment to the representatives of all the families displaced by SAIL for its various projects?

THE MINISTER OF STEEL(SHRI BENI PRASAD VERMA)

(a)&(b): Government has not formulated any separate policy for acquisition of land for setting up public sector steel plants. Land for setting up of steel plants by Public Sector Undertakings is acquired by concerned State Government as per the provisions of Land Acquisition Act. Compensation is paid as per the award given by the competent authority under the Act.

(c) Land for setting up Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) and township was acquired by the then Government of Bihar through various notifications. The number of families displaced at the time of setting up the BSL during 1972 was 6019. However, due to fragmentation in families, the Director, Project Land and Rehabilitation increased the number of displaced families and as on 31.5.1988 the number of displaced families is 13309.

(d)&(e): Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has provided employment to over 27000 persons under the “displaced persons” category at its steel plants at Bhilai, Rourkela, Bokaro, Salem and Kuteshwar limestone mines which is more than the identified displaced families. Out of this, 16000 jobs have been provided at BSL itself which is already more than the number of families displaced at the time of setting up of the plant. The employment of displaced persons is being regulated in terms of guidelines which have been upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India whereby other things being equal, displaced persons are considered and given preference for employment.