The Forest Rights Act and the Issues of Displacement in Odisha © Vasundhara, Bhubaneswar 2016 Published by VASUNDHARA, Plot No. 1731/C, Dash Mohapatra Complex , Ph: +91674-2728884, 2728885, 2728886, Email :
[email protected] Contents Chapter I Forests, Forest Dwellers and 7 the State in Odisha Chapter II Provisions in the Forest Rights 17 Act for Displaced People Chapter III Objective, Methodology and 23 the Rationale of the Study Chapter IV The Forest Rights Act, 2006 27 and the Displaced: Case Studies from Odisha Chapter V Conclusions and 141 Recommendations References 146 Annexures Annexure I List of Abbreviations Used 150 Annexure II Application of Lambipali 153 Forest Rights Committee to the BDO Annexure III Rehabilitation Policy of the 154 Rengali Project Annexure IV Land Acquisition and 158 Compensation in the Rengali Project Annexure V Testimonies of the Displaced 161 and their Representatives Acknowledgement This is to acknowledge the help rendered by the Director and the field level staff of Vasundhara that helped in preparing this report. We would also like to thank the district administration of Mayurbhanj, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Angul, and Koraput whose help was invaluable in preparing this report. The inputs of Prof Golak Bihari Nath and Prof Balgovind Baboo have helped us sharpen the process of preparing and writing this report; we thank them from the bottom of our hearts. Finally, we thank all the displaced and the representatives of the displaced people of Odisha whose inputs have made the report what it is. The Forest Rights Act and Issues of Displacement in Odisha 6 The Forest Rights Act and Issues of Displacement in Odisha Chapter I Forests, Forest Dwellers and the State in Odisha Introduction Forests in Odisha have been intimately connected with the socio-economic, environmental, ecological and cultural development of the state.