NHRC directives regarding polavaram irrigation project

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recently directed East Godavari Collector to initiate action within eight weeks on the alleged demolition of 16 houses of the Polavaram irrigation project evacuees at Seetaram village without settling the Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) package . Rights Watch Andhra Pradesh has lodged this case in NHRC.

NHRC is considered the vanguard of Human Rights protection in the country. Development and related displacement issues violate Human Rights of the people. Therefore NHRC finds a crucial role to protect human rights.

Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP) was declared as National Project under Section 90 of Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act-2014, is being implemented through an Authority [Polavaram Project Authority (PPA)] constituted by Ministry of Jal Shakti. The works of Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R & R) are being carried out by the State Govt. The State Govt. has set up district level grievance cell for sorting out grievances of displaced people, if any. Commissioner (R & R), Govt. of Andhra Pradesh is the Appellate Authority at State level to dispose off any appeal against the decision(s) of district level grievance cell.

There are 1,05,601 Project Displaced Families (PDFs) due to Polavaram Project and R & R works in respect of 3922 PDFs have been completed as reported by the State Government.

The Water Resources Projects are planned, funded, executed and maintained by the concerned State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priority. The land acquisition (LA) and Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R & R) works of such projects are also carried out by the concerned State Governments. In order to supplement their efforts, Government of India provides technical and financial assistance to encourage sustainable development and efficient management of water resources through various schemes and programmes.