Idco objects to SIA team role in suggesting alternative project sites

Idco suggests that this matter should be decided by the Odisha govt, not by the SIA team

The state's nodal agency for land acquisition, Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) has taken exception to the provision in the new land acquisition Act of the Centre, which mandates the team entrusted with the job to study social impact of a project to suggest alternative sites if the project is suspected to have adverse socio-economic impact on the local community.

"The Social Impact assessment (SIA) team should not have the option for possible alternative sites for the projects and their feasibility as this is a technical issue", Idco said, referring to Para 10 (2) (d) on draft rule for the 'Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

Idco mentioned this in a report submitted to the state government, containing its views on the provisions of the Act..

In the draft rule of the Act, it has been suggested that the SIA would provide the assessment as to whether the benefits from the proposed project exceed the social costs and adverse social impacts that are likely to be experienced by the affected families or even after the proposed mitigation measures, the affected families remained at risk of being economically or socially worse, as a result of land acquisition and resettlement.

Idco, has however, suggested that this matter should be decided by the government and not by the SIA team.

On public hearing, Idco said, it should be limited to the project area where people are going to be affected. It has pointed out that the video recording of the proceedings of public hearing does not commensurate with the provisions of the new Act.

Idco has also called for preparation of Terms of Reference (ToR) by the state SIA unit. A standard ToR may be prepared by the state SIA unit for projects of similar category as ToR for each case will significantly delay the land acquisition process, it suggested.

While conducting the assessment, the SIA team should also have interaction with the project authority to assess the requirement of the proposed land for the project.

Rule 14 of the Act envisages that the state government would take necessary decisions on the social impact assessment report, recommendations of the expert group, report of the district collector, if any and would recommend such area for acquisition. Idco has stressed on a time-frame for such decisions.

-----EOM-----