BJD admits construction of road on forest land near Odisha capital

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury

Bhubaneswar, Aug 19:

The ruling BJD today admitted that a road is being constructed in the forest area illegally in Ghangapatna mouza under Chandaka tehsil on the outskirts of the Odisha capital, where some BJD leaders have illegally taken possession of 100 acres of mostly forest land.

However, the party denied that BJD leaders have grabbed the forest and constructed boundary wall on it.

“Yes, a road is indeed being constructed illegally, which should not be done. Whoever has constructed this has done wrong and action will be taken as per the law,” said BJP leaders Pratap Dev and Samir Das.

However, Das denied allegations reported in the media that BJD leaders had taken possession of the land.

According to reports, four BJD leaders, including a BJD minister and a Rajya Sabha MP, have taken possession of nearly 100 acres of village forest land at Ghangapatna mouza, the market price of which is estimated to be over Rs 300 crore.

While two BJD leaders have already constructed boundary walls around the village forest land and constructed roads, the Revenue department has remained a mute spectator, the report published in a section of the media said.

Sources in the locality said a former minister and now a Rajya Sabha member has a major share of the ‘illegal’ land and has already dug a bore well there. He has even donated Rs 1 lakh to the local youth club members to ensure that he faces no opposition in taking the patch of land into his possession.

According to the villagers, this leader has also managed to construct a wide road to his illegally acquired land during his tenure as Panchayati Raj minister.