Patnaik approves R&R package for 600 families to be affected

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday approved a resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) package for around 600 families who are likely to be affected by the proposed expansion of the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

The state government has planned to modernise the hospital and expand its capacity to 3,000 beds.

The package is for people with residences on their own land, permanent shops, houses and business establishments on encroached land, a fish market, religious institutions, clubs and cowsheds, a statement by the Chief Minister's Office said.

The compensation will be given under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, it said.

The statement said the Cuttack district collector will execute the rehabilitation and resettlement policy.

"He (the collector) can take a decision on increasing and changing the financial assistance to the affected families and organisations based on recommendations of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Central Division," it said.

The statement said the state government will acquire private lands and houses registered in the name of the owners through direct payment and pay Rs 1 lakh to each family towards transportation and contingency arrangements.

Families with unauthorised houses in the proposed expansion area will be given a one-time payment of Rs 50,000 each, it said.

People with temporary sheds will be provided a 225 sq ft plot with a license to construct similar structures in another area in the city identified by the district administration and the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), the statement said.

The CMC will provide basic amenities to the people residing in these new temporary sheds, which they will have to vacate after they are permanently settled in houses that will be constructed by the state government under the Sulabh Housing scheme, it said.

The statement said the shopkeepers and the fish sellers registered with the CMC will be provided one-time assistance of Rs 1 lakh each while the civic body will refund their security deposit.

Shopkeepers with temporary structures will be provided space in the CMC vending zone and shops built on private lands will be acquired through direct payment, it said.

Provisions have also been made for relocation and special assistance for government employees whose quarters will be acquired for the expansion of the hospital, the statement added.