Khordha: Several landless families residing in Badha Sabarsahi of Jemadei mouza under Khordha municipality have approached the district collector seeking legal rights over the government land they have reportedly been occupying for more than 30 years.
The families submitted a petition to the collector seeking an inquiry into the matter and appropriate action under the law. According to the petition, the families have been living in houses on government land under Khata No. 289 and Plot No. 827 of Jemadei mouza for more than three decades.
They claimed they had taken shelter there as they did not own land or a house. The families alleged that a dispute had recently arisen with some persons over their settlement and that they were being pressured to vacate their houses.
They also alleged that they had been threatened on several occasions. The petitioners sought verification of the land records, present possession and their long-term occupation at the revenue level, followed by a decision in accordance with the law.
They urged the administration to consider granting them land-related rights and an opportunity for settlement under the applicable rules, subject to their eligibility. The families also requested that no decision affecting their settlement be taken until the dispute is resolved. They further sought an inquiry into the allegations of threats mentioned in their petition.