RPDAC Forms Grievance Panel for NLC Project in Sambarghar Jharsuguda

On September 8, 2026, the Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) held a meeting for the NLC coal mine and thermal power project affecting Sambalpur and Jharsuguda districts, chaired by Northern Division Revenue Divisional Commissioner Sangram Keshari Mohapatra, with MP Dharmendra Pradhan, local MLAs Tankadhar Tripathy and Sudarshan Haripal, and officials from NLC and district administrations present, to address grievances over land acquisition, compensation, rehabilitation and employment, resulting in the formation of a dedicated grievance redressal sub‑committee that also heard displaced villagers and women’s self‑help group members.

What decisions were made at the RPDAC meeting?

The committee resolved to form a dedicated sub‑committee for grievance redressal, allowing locals to present issues directly. It also reviewed land acquisition, compensation calculations, rehabilitation measures, local employment opportunities, skill development and environmental protection. Officials said the sub‑committee will document grievances for subsequent RPDAC meetings. The meeting also discussed discrepancies in structural valuation of homes and pending payment and interest rate issues.

How will the new grievance sub‑committee function?

Locals will be able to submit their concerns directly to the sub‑committee, which will systematically document them. The sub‑committee will report its findings at future RPDAC sessions to ensure timely responses. Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathy emphasized that special attention is being given to secure maximum employment for local youth. He said, “Special attention is being given to ensure maximum employment for local youth in this project. Fulfilling every legitimate demand of the affected people 100 percent is our main goal. We have thoroughly discussed all local grievances, and with the cooperation of the administration and company authorities, permanent solutions will be implemented very soon.”

What specific issues were raised regarding compensation and rehabilitation?

The meeting highlighted calculation errors in compensation and discrepancies in the structural valuation of houses. It also addressed pending payment and interest rate problems affecting displaced families. Representatives noted that many affected households belong to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and economically disadvantaged groups, some of whom were previously displaced by the Hirakud Dam. MP Dharmendra Pradhan stressed that protecting the interests of these communities must be the administration’s highest priority.

What next steps were outlined?

The RPDAC urged NLC authorities to promptly execute the directives issued by the committee. It also called for continued coordination between the administration, company officials and local representatives to implement rehabilitation and employment plans. The fifth phase of rehabilitation and peripheral development was confirmed to be under review for rollout.

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