Civil society groups to discuss DQ issues in Odisha on Aug 16

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 12:

In order debate and discuss the issue of illegal land allotment of land and houses under the discretionary quota in Odisha and to chalk out an action strategy, various civil society organisations of the state have joined hands to organise a state-level convention at Lohia Bhawan in Bhubaneswar at 3 pm on August 16.

In a press release issued today by well-known RTI activist Pradip Pradhan on behalf of the Odisha Durniiti Sangharsa Mancha, Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhiyan, Naba Niirman Samiti, Proutist Universal, Odisha Chapter, India Against Corruption (Odisha) and Odisha Nagarik Samaj,

The release says, “The audit Report of CAG in respect of allotment and distribution of land by General administration Dept., BDA, CDA and IDCO in Odisha has exposed huge corruption, irregularities, undue favour, violation of law and arbitrariness in respect of allotment of GA land, BDA plots and houses as well as IDCO land by the state government to Individuals, private educational institutions, private hospitals, hotels in Odisha.”

“While allotting land, the state government has violated all existing laws and shown undue favour to private bodies to purchase land at throwaway prices. The media reports have also exposed that more number of bureaucrats than politicians have manipulated the procedures to acquire multiple plots from GA, BDA and CDA,” the release further said, adding, the premium amount for land per acre has been deliberately kept much lower than the market price.

Alleging that a number of bureaucrat, politicians, hoteliers, corporate houses have stolen precious land, leaving thousands of poor people without a home in Bhubaneswar, the release says, undue favour and large scale irregularities in land allotment have caused a loss of one lakh crore rupees to state exchequer between 1990 and 2012.

The Convention is open to any individual who has a view to offer in the matter, the release informed.