Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday approved Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) policy for EKAMRA Plan to provide assistance to persons, institutions, including rehabilitation plan for vendors who are likely to be affected in the process of revival and preservation of the heritage value and grandeur of the historic Lingaraj Temple and its surroundings.
Under the plan, the State Government has planned to preserve the heritage of around 66 acres surrounding the Lingaraj Temple and Bindu Sagar. The Government has already announced projects under the Ekamra Kshetra Amenities and Monuments Revival Action Plan worth around Rs 700 crore. The R&R policy is part of that action plan.
All residential and commercial units having clear title of the land would be acquired through direct purchase method prescribed by the Government while compensation will be given as per the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
All the acquired land will be recorded in the name of Sri Lingaraj and donor names will be engraved in plaques in project area.
The R&R policy includes compensation, relocation and resettlement allowances, rental assistance for residential and commercial units. It includes R&R scheme for mathas and assistance for Government offices. All the project affected street vendors will also get rehabilitation assistance.
As per the package, immediate assistance of Rs 1 lakh per family will be provided towards expenses related to transportation and immediate arrangements while each family will be provided with Rs 15,000 per month for a period of Rs 12 months from the date of acquisition of property.
Similarly, every residential unit owner will be paid Rs 20 lakh as one-time settlement allowance over and above the compensation prescribed in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
Also, owners of commercial establishments will get allowance of Rs 1 lakh per unit towards expenses related to transportation whereas monthly assistance of Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 will be provided to shop owners having built up area of less than or equal to 200 square/feet and more than 200 square/feet, respectively.
The package also gave three options to shop owners. They are asked to either accept a shop unit at an available place at 50 per cent of the market value or to accept a shop at the new market complex to be developed on payment of 50 per cent cost or opt for a one-time settlement amount of Rs 20 lakh.
The package further stated that the listed street vendors will be provided with a one-time rehabilitation assistance of Rs 30,000 in two instalments while a vending plan will be developed to allocate space to the affected street vendors.
To assist affected Government offices and religious institutions, a committee headed by the BMC Commissioner will be formed to take a call on it.
EKAMRA Plan is targeted to be completed in six months and those who pledge their land to be acquired within 30 days of notification will get additional 10 per cent incentive on cash benefits. The policy will be implemented by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Commissioner in consultation with Khurda Collector.
