Mafias encroach land of Lord Lingaraj in Odisha

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Mar 11, 2015 at 1:25 PM Updated On : Mar 11, 2015 at 8:33 PM

Reported by Lingaraj Sahu
Bhubaneswar, Mar 11:

Land mafias of Odisha have their eyes set on the land of Lord Lingaraj and a cemetery in the capital city.

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Lingaraj temple, the 11th century holy Hindu shrine in Old Bhubaneswar

The state government which has started demolition drive in various areas of the city to free encroached government land, is blissfully unaware of the encroachment of these lands.

The encroachers have constructed a road inside the Kaligadia cemetery premises near Mahtab Road under Bhubaneswar Tehsil. While the government earlier had erected a boundary wall to protect this patch of land, the mafias have constructed a road to this place from Bhimatangi Housing Board Phase-2.

“The land in question measures up to four acres. The mafias are trying to build a road illegally on it. They are planning to take over the land after this. Appropriate steps need to be taken to protect the land,” said Kashinath Pujapanda, a senior servitor of the temple and the president of Muktidwara Smashan Suraksha Samiti.

The mafias are also trying to build a house in a land belonging to Lord Lingaraj near Rabi Talkies square of the city.

The 91 decimal land (plot number- 3061, Khata number- 411) under Goutam Nagar village of Bhubaneswar Tehsil belongs to Lingaraj Mahaprabhu Marfat Trust. The temple administration, on behalf of the Trust, had hung a sign board at the place notifying the same.

However, it has not stopped the mafias to take off the board and start illegal construction at the place.

“The land belongs to the Lord. We will take action soon to demolish the illegal construction and free the land,” said Temple Executive Officer Srinibas Kabi.

The temple executive officer and the Tehsildar of Bhubaneswar, while going through the lands of the Lord, have found the lands of the the General Administration department (Khata number- 1214, 1711, 1714, 1536, 1534, 1533, 1518, 1516, 1514 and 1418) under Kapila Prasad village of Bhubaneswar Tehsil.

“We will send the Revenue Inspector (RI) to study the lands and act accordingly,” said Tehsildar Manas Kumar Samal speaking about the Kaligadia Cemetery land and other lands of the Lord while are under illegal possession.