THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, APRIL 28, 2026

Odisha will soon roll out a new Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) Policy aimed at safeguarding the interests of families affected by land acquisition for mining and industrial projects, State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari announced on Tuesday.

The proposed policy will strengthen compensation, rehabilitation, resettlement, and livelihood support for displaced communities, ensuring that industrial growth does not come at the cost of people's welfare. "We need mines and industries for development, but we cannot put the lives of ordinary people at risk," Pujari said while chairing a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan.

The meeting reviewed land acquisition, rehabilitation, and resettlement issues related to coal mining, thermal power, and other industrial projects in Odisha's major mining districts, including Angul, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, and Sambalpur.

Pujari directed officials and industry representatives to ensure that all displaced families receive proper rehabilitation and resettlement before project execution. He stressed that the government remains firmly committed to protecting the rights and livelihoods of local communities.

"Displacing poor families to create facilities for a privileged few can never be justified," the minister said, reiterating that public welfare would remain at the centre of Odisha's industrial development strategy.

Under the upcoming policy, industries and mining companies will be required to establish well-developed rehabilitation colonies equipped with essential infrastructure and civic amenities. The government also plans to introduce stronger mechanisms to address acquisition-related grievances and expedite dispute resolution.

The minister instructed that government land should be allocated to industries on priority, with private land acquisition resorted to only when absolutely necessary. Companies have also been asked to ensure fair compensation, provide employment opportunities to local residents, and undertake meaningful community welfare initiatives.

Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) has been specifically directed to expedite the issuance of land titles for acquired land and ensure timely rehabilitation of displaced families in project areas.

Environmental protection was another key focus of the meeting. Raising concerns over pollution caused by fly ash transportation, Pujari ordered strict regulation of ash movement in mining and industrial belts.

He directed that fly ash transportation be restricted to designated hours, preferably at night, and that all trucks carrying ash must be properly covered. Industries have also been advised to gradually shift from open trucks to covered containers and adopt scientific methods such as underground slurry pipelines to minimise road transport and environmental damage.

The Odisha State Pollution Control Board will closely monitor compliance, and stringent legal action will be taken against any unauthorised or environmentally unsafe fly ash disposal.

In a significant policy decision, the government also resolved to review land acquisition cases under the Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC). Areas without coal mining activity will be excluded from the Coal Bearing Clause, ensuring that rehabilitation benefits reach genuinely affected communities.

Additionally, lands rendered unfit for habitation due to mining or fly ash disposal will be given priority during future acquisition processes.

Also present at the meeting were Dr. Arbinda Kumar Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department; Manoj V. Nair, Member Secretary, State Pollution Control Board; the Additional Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department; the General Manager of NTPC Limited, Darlipali; the Managing Director of Odisha Power Generation Corporation, Banharpali; and senior officials from various companies. Revenue Divisional Commissioner (North); the Collectors of Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Angul, and Sundargarh; other senior officials; Managing Director of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, Uday A. Kaole; the General Manager of NLC India Limited, Talabira; and several other high-ranking officials participated in the meeting virtually.