BHUBANESWAR: Buyers of a land scheme commissioned by the Odisha State Housing Board (OSHB) have filed a grievance with the chief minister’s office regarding the delay in getting possession of the plots they had bought in Jagannath Prasad mouza on the city’s outskirts.
The OSHB in May 2022 had advertised the scheme and named it ‘Vasudev Vihar’, located near Kalinga Studio. It consists of 166 plots. The buyers, mostly retired employees, alleged that though OSHB took the entire money, it has not handed over the developed housing plots to them.
“In May 2022, applicants submitted the full amount along with complete documentation to the Odisha State Housing Board. In July 2022, a lottery was conducted and 166 eligible beneficiaries were selected and allotted plots,” the grievance letter read.
It states that six months after the lottery, the OSHB issued a written notice in Jan 2023, and a few months later, agreements were signed for quick transfer of plots. “We met the housing board officials multiple times in 2023 and 2024 regarding the lack of progress in plot development, but no positive outcome was achieved,” the buyers alleged.
As per the development plan, OSHB was to construct boundary walls, provide external electrification, water supply, open areas, external water supply, internal roads and drains, and a 100-foot wide entry road.
The buyers said the officials repeatedly promised that the plots would be handed over to the beneficiaries within 18 months of allotment; however, the board has not fulfilled this commitment.
Bapuni Mahapatra, a buyer, said in June this year, they informed the board that 18 months had passed, yet the work was not half done, while the contractor had completely stopped work.
“We requested a written commitment on when the plots would be handed over, but were verbally informed that the contractor would resume development work soon, and plots would be handed over accordingly,” Mahapatra said.
OSHB managing director Gangadhar Nayak said registration with the buyers is already over and some infrastructure work is on going at the site. “After the development of the plots, it will be handed over to the buyers,” Nayak said.
Pravakar Sethi, a buyer, said the contractor has not started the plot development work. “We are living under uncertainty and mental stress and submitted a request to the secretary in August asking for a detailed investigation into the negligence and a written commitment on when our plots will be developed,” Sethi said.
