Pattamundai: Grabbing and selling of government land illegally by influential persons have become a headache for the Kendrapara district administration in this block, sources informed here Wednesday. Due to urbanisation of this block, the demand for land to build houses is increasing rapidly. Taking advantage of this situation land sharks have encroached on government land and sold approximately 200 acres to buyers. Sources informed that even tehsildars of many localities are involved in such nefarious dealings. They are playing an important role in selling off government land to private parties in exchange for lakhs of rupees. They are also preventing proper investigation of the deals by suppressing facts and destroying documents, the sources alleged.
A few days back on a visit here, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had instructed the district administration to remove all illegal encroachments from government land immediately. However, nothing has materialised to date and the land sharks continue to flourish, locals alleged. Eviction notices (Form B) have been issued to a large number of encroachers. The process was initiated in 2010 and is continuing. However, despite issuing notices land grabbing continues unabated in the block. Locals stated that the apathy of the administration to enforce eviction has encouraged the land sharks. Some tehsildars stated that the eviction drive is continuing against encroachers, but they have no solid proof to back up their statements. If one looks into the issue carefully, one will find that construction by private operators is being carried out on government land in many places. Social worker Ananta Dash informed that in 2009, the district administration had demolished parts of a commercial establishment built on leased-out government land. The decision to demolish parts of the building was taken as it had exceeded the leased-out area.
Despite the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) cancelling the lease of a market complex in 2021, many shops continue to operate. Locals are surprised that the tehsildar of this block has not taken any action against the errant people. More than 15 acres of land around the market complex are still being occupied by encroachers, sources said. Advocate Soumyaranjan Dhal pointed out that illegal encroachment by land sharks is seriously hampering the development of this block. A proper sewerage system cannot be developed due to lack of land. Due to encroachment, construction of a library and a police station has been suspended, locals said. Sources added that unless the nexus between the land sharks and government employees is broken, illegal encroachments will continue to flourish. They added that in the process common people are losing out as development remains stalled due to the unavailability of land.
