Rehab of 6,736 families displaced due to Pong Dam to be expedited: Minister
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi today said that the state government would hold a ministerial-level meeting next month to expedite the process to rehabilitate 6,736 displaced families. A high-level committee constituted to address the relief and rehabilitation of families displaced due to the Pong Dam project submitted a comprehensive report to the Revenue Minister today.
Negi said that assistance from the Central Government would also be sought to ensure timely and effective relief efforts for these displaced families. A committee formed for the purpose is headed by Sanjay Kumar Dhiman, Deputy Commissioner (Relief and Rehabilitation), and includes Jawali SDM Vichitra Singh and Dehra Tehsildar Karam Chand Kalia as members.
The minister said that the committee’s recommendations included the allotment of land to the 6,736 displaced families and the establishment of a grievance redress cell to address concerns related to infrastructure and facilities. He added that a state-level meeting was convened in Dharamsala on October 18 to deliberate on the rehabilitation plan.
Negi said, “Subsequently, the committee inspected the land identified for these families in Rajasthan, covering regions such as Ramgarh, Jaisalmer, Mohangarh and Nachana from October 25 to 27, in coordination with administrative officers of the Rajasthan Government.”
He added that 75,268 acres were acquired for the Pong Dam project during 1966-67, impacting 339 villages. Of the 20,722 affected families, 16,352 had been found eligible for land allotment while 6,736 families were yet to be rehabilitated.
73 Cabinet decisions implemented: Negi
Shimla, December 4
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi today said 73 Cabinet decisions had been implemented while the work on the remaining was being expedited. He presided over a meeting of a Cabinet Sub-Committee and reviewed the implementation of the decisions taken in the meetings held between January 13, 2023, and September 30, 2023.
The minister said that 288 decisions were taken in 16 Cabinet meetings conducted during this period and 273 decisions had already been implemented. “The remaining 15 decisions pertaining to the Forest, General Administration, Health, Industry, Revenue, Transport, Agriculture and Personnel departments were discussed at length in the meeting,” he added.
Negi directed the officials concerned to ensure the swift implementation of the decisions. He added that the government had taken these decisions in the larger public interest and these would be implemented promptly so that their benefits reach people at the earliest.
Member Secretary of the sub-committee Harbans Singh Brascon and Joint Secretary (GAD) Kulvinder Singh attended the meeting.
