Sambalpur: Hirakud Dam Turns 69 Years; Displaced People’s Struggle still Continues, Protest in front of RDC office on 22nd

Sambalpur: The construction of the Hirakud Dam in Odisha has significantly contributed to the state’s economic growth by controlling floods in eastern Odisha, improving irrigation in western Odisha, and generating electricity for the entire state. However, despite these benefits, many families displaced during the dam’s construction continue to suffer and fight for justice even after 69 years.

The Beginning

On January 13, 1957, then-Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the Hirakud Dam. To make way for the dam, the government acquired 116 villages. Of these, 48 villages were fully acquired, and only the land from 85 villages was taken. The project submerged 185,000 acres of land and over 200 temples in the Mahanadi River.

Displacement and Relocation

The dam’s construction displaced 26,501 families. Only 2,243 families from 38 villages were resettled in 18 colonies within Sambalpur district. The remaining families were scattered across various districts in western Odisha. Over time, these families divided further, and their current population is estimated to be around one lakh (100,000) families.

Land Rights and Delays

During displacement, 55 villages in Jharsuguda district received temporary land rights (‘DC Pattas’) from the Deputy Commissioner. In 2002, the Odisha Revenue Department instructed that all displaced families should receive 10 decimal plots for housing. However, due to delays, only 4,450 out of 84,000 divided families had received land titles by 2023.

Recent Government Actions

In December 2024, then-Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik distributed land titles to 866 families in Jharsuguda. Since the formation of the new state government, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari has taken steps to address some of the pending issues faced by the displaced families.

Ongoing Issues

However, thousands of applications remain pending across the districts of Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Subarnapur, and Sundargarh. Many families have received no compensation yet. The Budi Anchal Sangram Samiti reports that 1,775 families, including groups like Jhankar, Chowkidar, and Nariha, have yet to receive compensation. Furthermore, 6,373 families are still awaiting compassionate compensation from the government.

Protests and Future Plans

Gopinath Majhi, General Secretary of the Sangram Samiti, announced plans for a protest on January 22 in front of the Northern Revenue Commissioner’s office. Similarly, Lokanath Sahu from the Hirakud Displaced Welfare Committee declared a protest on January 27 for unresolved issues.

Even after decades, many families continue to struggle for justice and proper rehabilitation despite the immense contributions their sacrifices made for the state’s development. Their voices demand attention and timely action from the authorities.