Post News Network
Baripada, Feb 12: The zonal office of the Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) Wednesday ordered a departmental probe into encroachment of government land in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts in the name of setting up of industries.
A four-member team comprising two officials each from Idco and district industries centres (DIC) would investigate the matter and submit reports within a week, GS Barik, Idco’s in-charge in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts, said, adding action would be taken on the basis of the reports.
The probe order came in the wake of a report on the massive land grab published on February 9 edition of Oriya daily Dharitri. Before ordering the probe, Barik held a closed door meeting with senior officials during which several facts came to light.
The entrepreneurs failed to register their grievances as the industrial court has not been held for years. On the other hand, some industrialists are allegedly using the land allotted to them for residential purposes.
Prafulla Kumar Nayak, an Idco staffer, managed a government land in his wife’s name to set up a trunk factory but the same has been used as a fabrication unit for the last eight years. Though Idco had issued a directive in 2007 to submit a revised lay out plan, this has not been followed.
Barik, Idco’s zonal head, has asked the officials to probe these projects and submit a status report. Sources said the DIC officials are hard-pressed for time as they have been given just a week to file the complete report. Some have reportedly encroached upon government land in connivance with officials to set up projects after they failed to get a land allotment. The DIC officials, following the probe order, are harried as to how to regularise the matter.
The order has reignited hope among aspirants who failed to get a piece of land to set up industries. Sushil Patra said it is good an investigation has been ordered into illegal land grab.
Official sources said, the government had sanctioned land to Idco to set up three industrial hubs – 24.33 acres at Chhancha industrial area, 12.97 acres for Takatpur industrial area, both in Baripada and 53.57 acres for Rairangpur industrial area – to set up industries. According to DIC records, there is no land left in Chhancha and Takatpur industrial areas whereas 15.97 acres of land are left in Rairangpur industrial area.