NHRC notice to state govt, SCR on compensation

HYDERABAD: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued notices to the state chief secretary and the general manager of South Central Railway (SCR) in a case pertaining to payment of compensation to those who were displaced due to construction of a railway bridge in Tanuku town of West Godavari district.

Following a complaint lodged by rights activist Pentapi Pullarao and other local people, the commission asked both the respondents to reply within six weeks on the status of the displaced people. According to the complaint lodged before Justice B C Patel, the three-kilometer bridge in Tanuku had displaced about 1500 people. They said they had lost their livelihood due to closure of shops for the construction of the bridge. The petitioner said SCR reneged on its promise to compensate the people before construction of the bridge. Pullarao urged the commission to ensure that the assured compensation was given to them on humanitarian grounds.

The petitioner also brought to the notice of NHRC that the existing level-crossing had been closed permanently after the construction of the bridge. "The people of one side of the town have to walk three kilometers to reach the other side of the town," the petitioner said.


(2010-10-15/timesofindia)