NHRC asks govt for farmer relief details

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the state government to submit the details of compensation paid to the farmers, whose crops were damaged by a polluting factory in Koraput district, within six weeks.
The commission passed the order on April 12 while hearing a petition filed by campaigner Subash Mohapatra.
In 2014, 49 farmers of Ranipur and its neighbouring villages in the district lost their crops after Bilt Graphic Paper Products Ltd released waste water into their fields, alleged the petition filed on August 18, 2014.
On March 4, 2015, the rights panel had sought an action taken report from the state government. Special secretary, forest and environment department, submitted a report on May 13 last year, stating that the farmers would be compensated suitably.
Later, the government submitted a report about payment of compensation to the affected farmers. However, the NHRC found discrepancy in the process as only 31 farmers were paid compensation.
The report revealed that requisite action had been taken by the authorities concerned and compensation paid to the farmers in accordance with the damages. "In the letter dated May 8, 49 farmers are said to have been provided compensation whereas the annexure mentions only 31 names," the rights panel said.
The NHRC further directed the government to submit details of compensation paid to the remaining 18 farmers along with proof of payment.
The petitioner demanded that the state government should come clean on policies on croploss and damages caused by the corporates. "The industrial houses should respect the environmental norms as mere compensation does not help the affected farmers. The government should take stringent action against companies found guilty," said Mohapatra.
The industries and business houses, running their ventures in the state, should respect United Nations guiding principles on business and human rights, he added.