Odisha Human Rights Fee recommends probe into lapses in Satkosia relocation | Bhubaneswar Information – The Instances of India

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Human Rights Fee recommends a excessive‑degree, multi‑division inquiry after pulling up the state govt for big‑scale irregularities within the relocation of villages from Satkosia Tiger Reserve.It flagged violations starting from the absence of legitimate Gram Sabha consent and non‑settlement of forest rights to arbitrary exclusion of beneficiaries.The panel sought motion towards officers concerned and beneficial corrective measures, together with differential compensation for affected households.The order, handed on February 9, got here in response to petitions from residents of Bhurukundi, Asanbahal, Kataranga, Tuluka, Tikarapada, Gopalpur and different habitations, who alleged coercion, forgery, unfair exclusion and extreme hardship throughout the relocation drive in recent times.The complaints mentioned the administration bypassed NTCA norms, ignored necessary processes beneath the Forest Rights Act (FRA), and undertook relocation with out free and knowledgeable Gram Sabha consent.A complete of greater than 650 households had been relocated. Whereas natives of 5 villages had been totally relocated between 2017 and 2025, the method remains to be beneath method in 2 others.After inspecting information, notifications and testimonies of affected villagers and officers, the fee concluded that the relocation course of suffered from “severe procedural infirmities”. It discovered that, in a number of instances, FRA rights weren’t recognised or settled earlier than relocation, making any consent legally invalid.Many Gram Sabhas had been both not held, convened with out correct discover, or performed with out the required quorum—circumstances that, the fee famous, “don’t encourage confidence” about voluntariness.The OHRC additionally flagged non‑clear beneficiary enumeration, citing altered lists that weren’t publicly disclosed, resulting in wrongful exclusion of married daughters, individuals with disabilities and lengthy‑time period residents, whereas some ineligible individuals had been included with out correct verification.It additional famous that compensation was usually launched with out scientific valuation of homes, land, timber and livelihood belongings, inflicting “grave hardship” to the displaced households.Terming these lapses violations of human rights and statutory safeguards, the fee beneficial constituting a excessive‑degree committee comprising senior officers from the forest, ST & SC improvement, income and legislation departments, together with an impartial professional in wildlife legislation and rehabilitation coverage.The panel will assessment village‑clever violations, confirm beneficiary lists, assess compensation gaps and counsel corrective measures, together with disciplinary or felony motion towards accountable officers. The committee is to be fashioned inside 4 weeks.Till the inquiry is accomplished, the OHRC barred any additional relocation from buffer, fringe or ringed‑out villages of Satkosia until FRA rights are totally settled, legitimate Gram Sabha resolutions are handed with correct quorum, and the forest and surroundings division approves the method.