Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has directed all district Collectors to undertake a time-bound review of government land allotted for developmental and public welfare purposes and initiate action against those found misusing or unauthorisedly retaining such land.
The Revenue & Disaster Management Department has asked Collectors to review government land provided through advance possession, permissive possession, lease or alienation that has remained unutilised for a prolonged period or is being used for purposes other than those for which it was sanctioned.
In a letter to all Collectors, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Arabinda Kumar Padhee, said government land is a valuable public resource and its protection and proper utilisation is the collective responsibility of all concerned.
Padhee said government land has been allotted to various government departments, corporations, institutions, organisations and individuals through advance possession, permissive possession, lease and alienation.
However, in some cases, such land has either remained unutilised or has been diverted for purposes other than those sanctioned.
Such instances defeat the objective of allotment and undermine the proper utilisation of government land, he said, directing the Collectors to conduct a comprehensive review in their respective districts.
He stressed that revenue field officials must discharge their statutory duties fearlessly, impartially and strictly in accordance with law, particularly in cases involving vested interests or influential organisations and individuals.
Officials must not succumb to fear, favour, pressure or influence while dealing with such cases, Padhee said.
The government has also warned of stringent disciplinary and criminal action against officers or employees found to be colluding with vested interests, corrupt individuals or other entities in the misuse of government land.
The district administrations have been directed to sensitise all concerned officers and employees about the instructions and take necessary precautions to protect and properly manage government land.
In cases involving advance possession, action has to be taken under Rule 11-A of the Odisha Government Land Settlement Rules, 1983, while pending cases are to be subjected to prompt field verification.
Where the land is found to be unutilised or used for a purpose other than the sanctioned one, necessary steps should be taken under the law to revest the land with the Government, the letter said.
The present utilisation status of land held under permissive possession should also be verified, while government land leased to institutions, organisations and individuals has to undergo a case-wise review.
Padhee further directed the district administrations to take prompt and stringent action for eviction of encroachers where encroachment is detected on government land that has been leased out or alienated, following the prescribed rules and procedures.
Each district will have to maintain a comprehensive record of all cases reviewed, including cases identified for action, proceedings initiated, proceedings completed and land restored to the Government account.
The entire exercise has been accorded priority status, with Collectors made personally responsible for ensuring that there is no unnecessary delay or negligence and that appropriate action is taken in all eligible cases.
