Port Blair, July 13: The Administration was planning to evict the old encroachers of Kodiyaghat, under Chidiyatapu village for setting up of Solar Plant Project. In this regard Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, the MP took up the matter with the Ministry to resolve the issue for making alternative relief for the affected persons.
In order to resolve the issue a meeting was held today in the Chamber of Mr.Upendra Tripathy, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, GoI regarding the eviction of poor Ranchi /other communities from encroachment lands at Kodiyaghat under Chidiyatapu village in Port Blair Tehsil, South Andaman district, for setting up of Solar Power project, without making any alternative relief for their resettlements.
The MP informed the Secretary that an area of 36 hect. of land under Sy. No.15/1, 15/2, 17 & 18 situated at Chidiyatapu under Port Blair Tehsil, in South Andaman district has been allotted by the Administration in the name of the electricity department for setting up of 18 MV Solar Power project, without verifying the ground reality of fact as to whether the said land allotted for the purpose, is free all encumbrances or not.
Further, MP informed that, on the said lands, about 35 families are already settled/residing since past 35-40 years after constructing pucca/semi pucca houses. This fact is very well in the knowledge of the A&N Administration, which cannot be denied due to fact that all these residents having electricity and water pipe connections. Some photographs of the houses of affected were shown by the undersigned as a proof of evidence and a letter dated 12/07/2016 addressed to Mr. Piyus Goyal, the Minister of Power, GoI has been handed over to him and had a detailed discussion on the above issue.
Secretary, MNRE assured the MP that the matter would be solved amicably and 35 families will be rehabilitee to the satisfaction of the affected. NTPC will construct alternate houses for the land-oustees. He further assured that, the NTPC may engage some people among the 35 families on daily basis and will be deployed in the proposed solar plant.
He categorically stated that he would inform the Minister, MNRE, Govt of India, and the Chief Secretary of Andaman & Nicobar Islands for promptly taking up this matter in a humanitarian way and solve the issue in the larger public interest. He directed Mr Tarun Kapoor, IAS, Jt .Secretary, MNRE to coordinate and supervise the whole issue so that the affected persons should not be faced any further problems relating to their resettlement.
The MP was thankful for the prompt action taken by Secretary, MNRE and appreciated his conduct and his concern for the downtrodden. He also said that Secretary’s line of thought and action is similar to the thought and action of Prime Minister.
The expressed hope that the issue will be resolved in a proper manner and this will set an example for others where infra-development is a disadvantage for poor, backward and down trodden. The initiative of MNRE will be a very good example indeed.
