Amnesty scheme to be relaunched soon in Odisha!

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of increasing number of illegal structures and buildings under different development authorities in Odisha, the authorities are planning to relaunch Sarbakhyama Yojana (amnesty scheme) in February for regularizing those constructions and unauthorized projects.

Two panels – a working committee and a scrutiny committee – have been formed for implementation of the amnesty scheme. The working committee comprises of the BDA, CDA planning members and OSD Town Planning members, whereas the BDA deputy chairman, Town Planning director and an official in rank of joint secretary of the Urban Development department have been appointed as the members in Scrutiny committee.

If required the Scrutiny panel can make necessary changes in the recommendations made by the working committee. The final report by the Scrutiny committee will be submitted to the Urban Development secretary. The scheme will be implemented after it gets nod from the Cabinet, said the sources in the Urban Development department.

The move came to regularize the unauthorized constructions after the report came about lakhs of buildings constructed without plan under nine development authorities including BDA illegally, said a senior official in the department.

The amnesty scheme will be implemented in Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), Rourkela Development Authority (RDA), Talcher-Angul-Mermunduli Development Authority, Berhampur Development Authority, Sambalpur Development Authority, Puri-Konark Development Authority, Kalinga Nagar Development Authority and Paradip Development Authority. The fine will be collected per square feet of the illegal constructions. The decision will be made further about the types of projects to be included under the scheme, the source said.

As per the proposed amendments to be made in the scheme, the illegal constructions will not be demolished rather those will be regularized after paying fine amount.

The Sarbakhyama Yojana or the amnesty scheme was first launched in Bhubaneswar in the year 2007. Later, it was extended to Cuttack. However, the scheme could not be implemented successfully getting the revenue around Rs 18 crore in Bhubaneswar.