Bhubaneswar: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed significant violations in the land acquisition processes conducted by the previous Odisha government. These lapses include the failure to obtain consent from gram sabhas, irregular compensation payments, and the absence of mandatory Social Impact Assessments (SIA).
Key Findings:
Lack of Gram Sabha Consent:
In its audit of land acquisition cases across Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, and Sundargarh districts, the CAG found major procedural gaps. Specifically, in the acquisition of 297.4886 acres of land in Koraput, Sundargarh, Kalahandi, and Mayurbhanj, the government failed to secure gram sabha consent, a legal requirement under the RFCTLARR Act, 2013.
Incomplete Social Impact Assessments:
The CAG's report highlights that 312 land acquisition cases were examined, 58 of which related to irrigation projects, where a Social Impact Assessment was not mandated. However, for the remaining 254 cases, the SIA was not conducted in 44 cases, violating the legal procedures.
Delayed Notifications:
The audit also noted delays in issuing preliminary notifications for land acquisition under Section 11 of the RFCTLARR Act. According to the law, this notification must be issued within 12 months after the SIA report is appraised by an expert group. However, in three projects involving the acquisition of 82.852 acres of land, notifications were issued over 18 months after the stipulated deadline.
Irregular Compensation Payments:
The CAG identified discrepancies in the calculation of compensation to displaced families. In 36% (74 out of 203) of the test-checked cases, the sales data of neighboring villages was not collected to assess the market value of the acquired land. In six cases, involving 43.48 acres of land, the audit uncovered an undervaluation of Rs 10.07 crore.
In Sundargarh district, the benchmark value of land was higher than the average sales value of similar land in other districts. However, this was not considered in determining the compensation, leading to an under-assessment of Rs 5.27 crore.
Compensation Not Disbursed:
In a staggering 179 cases involving 3,055.583 acres of land, compensation amounting to Rs 120.94 crore was not disbursed due to outdated land records. Moreover, the audit found that in some cases, the government took possession of 57.453 acres of land without initiating legal proceedings or compensating the affected landowners, directly contravening the RFCTLARR Act, 2013.
Denial of Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) Benefits:
The report also highlighted that 13,415 affected families were denied their rightful Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) benefits, amounting to Rs 737.82 crore. Additionally, 2,208 displaced families were not provided their R&R entitlements of Rs 176.51 crore, even after their land was acquired and they were displaced.
Conclusion
The CAG's findings reveal a systemic failure in adhering to the land acquisition laws in Odisha. The lapses have not only led to financial discrepancies but also caused immense hardship to displaced families, many of whom remain uncompensated. This report calls for urgent corrective measures to ensure that land acquisition is carried out transparently, with full compliance with legal procedures, and fair compensation for affected families.