Government Directs Immediate Resettlement Measures for 14 Affected Panchayats

Nandapur, Feb 18: For the Machkund Hydroelectric Project, residents of 14 panchayats were displaced. Even after 70 years of the project’s construction, their problems have not been resolved, alleged social activist and lawyer Anup Kumar Patra. Acting on his complaint, the National Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of the matter.
The Commission has registered a case (No. 1904/IN/2026 dated 10/02/2026) and issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, the District Collectors of Koraput and Alluri Sitharama Raju district, and the authorities managing the project — Odisha Hydro Power Corporation and APGENCO — asking them to submit their responses. It has also directed that a special committee be formed to arrange proper rehabilitation for the displaced people of all 14 panchayats.

Following this development, displaced residents from 10 panchayats of Nandapur block and 4 panchayats of Lamtaput block — covering more than 200 villages — have expressed happiness.

According to reports, for construction of the Jollaput reservoir under the Machkund Hydroelectric Project, villagers from multiple panchayats in Nandapur block — including Bilaput, Atanda, Pachhalung, Kularsingh, Parajabadapada, Golur, Padua, Kulabir, Balda, and Badel — were displaced. Similarly, people from Chickenput, Anakadeli, Kadeli, Batiguda, and Godihanjara panchayats of Lamtaput block were also displaced for the project site.

Although 70 years have passed since power generation began, many displaced families still lack basic facilities. They allege they have neither received electricity benefits nor employment in the project, and development works have not been carried out in the 14 affected panchayats.

The issue had earlier been highlighted in media reports and brought to the attention of the President and Prime Minister. The Prime Minister’s Office had previously directed the state government to review the complaint. Now, the Human Rights Commission has formally issued notices to the concerned authorities of both states and project agencies. Displaced people’s organizations in the Nandapur submerged area have welcomed the move and expressed hope that both state governments will jointly resolve their long-pending issues.