Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday approved a rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) package for the people who would be displaced for the renovation project of the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

The project aims at transforming the State’s premier medical institution into a world-class hospital

As per the decision, the Government would directly acquire the land owned by the individuals in an approved process for the project by paying them compensation under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The Government would provide Rs 1 lakh of financial assistance to each family for expenses towards transport and other emergency services.

The residents of the houses constructed in unauthorised manner have also been included under the package.

“Each affected family will be provided Rs 50,000 and will be allowed to construct their own houses on their expenses for a temporary period at the land belonging to the Cuttack Municipality Corporation (CMC) and the district administration,” said a release from the Chief Minister’s Office.

The families would have to vacate the houses after being rehabilitated under the housing project carried out by the Government. The displaced families sheltered at temporary houses would be provided food for a maximum period of eight days. The CMC would make all arrangements for transport of the belongings of people for their relocation.

Besides, the Government announced to provide financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to vendors and fish sellers registered under the CMC for their relocation apart from making a system to refund their security deposits. The authorities would also allot places to the street vendors in the CMC vending zones on a priority basis.

The Government would also compensate the people who have built shops at their own lands under the Land Acquisition Act. The CMC authorities would bear transport expenses of the affected shopkeepers by paying them Rs 1 lakh each in two phases.

For unauthorised shops, the Government would pay Rs 30,000 each to the affected vendors while the street vendors would receive Rs 20,000 each for their relocation. Besides, the Government announced Rs 1 lakh for relocation of each religious establishment and club and Rs 20,000 each for cow shelters.

However, a decision would be taken by a committee formed by the RDC as per the market price for providing rented accommodation facility for any establishment.

The Government employees, who will vacate their quarters, would receive monetary assistance for house rent for a period of one year till they are allotted new accommodations in the city. The Group D employees would be provided Rs 5,000 each towards house rent. Rs 7,500 would be paid to Class-III employees, Rs 10,000 to Class-II employees and Rs 12,500 to Class-I employees.

The government has decided to provide funds to the district Collector to execute the rehabilitation and resettlement policy for the SCB renovation project.