Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, May 3: In the wake of the state government decision to implement recommendations of Taradatt-led Task Force to review allotment of housing plots and flats, Housing and Urban Development minister Pushpendra Singh Deo Sunday said action is being contemplated.
“The general administration department (GAD) in consultation with the law department has framed a systematic guideline to adopt Task Force report. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved it. As per the modalities, our department will examine it and take necessary action,” Singh Deo said here.
The suggested modalities will be sent to the GA department and then it will be sent to the housing and urban development department with proper instructions, official sources said.
Sources said, the government will serve show-cause notices on the beneficiaries first and may take action against them if the responses are unsatisfactory.
After drawing flak over allotment of plots and flats, the state government had constituted a task force headed by revenue secretary Taradatt. The panel submitted its report to the government suggesting cancellation of all multiple allotments under the quota.
On the basis of the report, the state Cabinet in December decided to scrap all houses and plots allotted under the discretionary quota (DQ) since January 1, 1995. It also decided to conduct a vigilance inquiry and initiate criminal proceedings against those who produced false affidavit to get plots and houses under discretionary quota meant for martyrs, sportspersons and distinguished personalities.
If the recommendations come into force, illegally allotted 6,001 flats and plots by Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), Orissa State Housing Board (OSHB) and General Administration (GA) department since January 1, 1995, would be cancelled.
Similarly, a total of 1791 allotments under DQ including 803 by BDA, 921 by CDA and 67 by OSHB would stand cancelled. The Vigilance wing of the state police will probe cases of multiple allotments and criminal proceedings will be initiated if beneficiaries have got the plots or houses by submitting fake affidavits.
Meanwhile, the Congress and BJP have criticised the government for delaying implementation of the panel recommendations. The parties have alleged the state government has taken unusually long time in framing the modalities to protect ministers, bureaucrats and other bigwigs.
“The government has taken a long time to rectify its mistakes and abolish avoidances against its ministers and officers, who have taken government plots and flats under DQ,” leader of Congress Narasingha Mishra told reporters.
