Morwa oustees demand New Morwa City nearby and revised compensation rates

Vivek Porwal, Singrauli's first collector and now Joint Secretary in the Madhya Pradesh government's mineral department, visited Morwa on Friday. New Collector Ankit Asthana was with him. The two spoke with office-bearers of displaced persons' forums and affected families at the community hall in Ward No. 9.

Porwal said he had come to meet people and learn about their problems under Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav's Jan Ashirwad programme. During the discussion, people expressed anger over delays in rehabilitation, compensation and basic problems.

The displaced demanded that, instead of being sent to far-off areas, a New Morwa City be set up close to Morwa. They also asked for the compensation rates for land and houses to be revised and for fair compensation to be paid.

Representatives of the displaced persons' forum said about two and a half years had passed since the Section 9 process began, but no concrete arrangement for rehabilitating the affected families had been made so far. They accused the NCL management of ignoring these problems.

According to the representatives, a good deal of government land is available near Morwa at Kathas, Khirwa and Kusawai. About 45 hectares of forest land has not yet had even saplings planted on it. They suggested that New Morwa be established by building a residential colony in these areas.

People also expressed anger that families living on government land were being offered only Rs 6 lakh as compensation. Issues of intense blasting in the mines, digging in the safety zone, children's education and employment were also raised at the meeting.

Collector Asthana assured the gathering that he would discuss the problems and try to find solutions. Porwal said the affected people would be helped to get the maximum possible benefit. After the meeting, he left for the NCL headquarters, where a meeting with the management is proposed.