(a) whether the Government has received any representation regarding punitive land acquisition at Polavaram Dam and if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon; and
(b) the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to protect the tribals at Polavaram Dam and resolve all their issues in a time-bound manner?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI JASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR)
(a) No, Madam. The Ministry has not received any representation regarding punitive land acquisition at Polavaram Dam.
(b) The Department of Land Resources in the Ministry of Rural Development is the nodal agency for matters relating to land acquisition. Under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, as well as under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR), acquisition of land for various projects is done by concerned State Governments / UT Administrations.
As per Section 48 of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013, a National Monitoring Committee has been constituted to review and monitor the implementation of Rehabilitation and Resettlement Schemes or plans related to land acquisition under the RFCTLARR Act, 2013 and National Rehabilitation & Resettlement Policy (NRRP), 2007. This Committee has held several meetings, wherein the issue of displacement of persons due to construction of Polavaram Dam was taken up. Comments of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (M/oWRRD & GR) and Government of Andhra Pradesh had been called for. As per information provided by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, through MoWRRD&GR, land was acquired for construction of Power House of Polavaram Project as per Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and compensation for land and properties were extended prior to 2012 in terms of Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy of Government of Andhra Pradesh. The Award has already been passed and compensation has already been paid.
The National Monitoring Committee, which reviews and monitors the implementation of Rehabilitation and Resettlement schemes, looks into issues related to displacement of people, payment of compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement, and the status of land acquisition.
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