Issues of Large-scale Dam Resettlement and Rehabilitation: Case of Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Large chunks of land have been acquired in different parts of India for large-scale infrastructure projects, such as dams, power stations, etc., in the past. The Bhakra Dam project, being one such large-scale project executed immediately after the Independence, displaced thousands of families without having any proper rehabilitation mechanism in place. The old Bilaspur town (OBT) was part of land acquired for construction of the reservoir for Bhakra Dam, known as Gobind Sagar Lake. The new Bilaspur township was established to rehabilitate families originally living in the OBT. Presently, second or third generation of these families are living on these allotted plots in the new town. This article is an attempt to unfold the flaws in the undertaken rehabilitation policy which has led to unplanned and haphazard development in the town as well as created problems for both oustees and public authorities. These problems continue to persist in present times also, thereby limiting the citizens to avail benefits of the recent policy for regularisation of encroachments and the newly launched housing programme—Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.