BHUBANESWAR: Sending a clear message to encroachers of govt land, chief minister Mohan Majhi on Monday asked district administrations to identify and evict them on priority.
“The govt land is meant for public use and for development projects. Squatters have been creating problems. They need to be removed at the soonest possible,” Majhi was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office.
The CM has asked officials concerned to remove encroachers and fence the reclaimed land and put signboards in both rural and urban areas.
Speaking to TOI about the govt decision, revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said the initiative is against land sharks who have illegally taken over govt land abusing their money and muscle power.
“The move is not directed against landless people who may be staying on govt land. The govt is committed to ensuring four decimal of homestead land for every landless in a time-bound manner. Land grabbers will be evicted,” Pujari said.
Pujari said land is a scare resource and unless govt removes illegal occupants, there can’t be smooth execution of development works.
Eviction to start with influential land grabbers
The minister said the eviction drive would start with the most influential among the land grabbers.
“The reclaimed land will be used for purposes ranging from common utility to distribution among landless and development projects,” he said.
Earlier, Satyabrata Sahu, additional chief secretary of the revenue and disaster management department, had on Saturday written to the district collectors for optimum management of land resources and removal of encroachment.
Sahu had pointed out concerns being raised at a high-level meeting regarding large-scale encroachments, impairing smooth allocation of land for development purposes.
The revenue department has asked the district collectors to make a realistic survey of such encroachments and submit action taken reports to the govt.
Govt sources said largescale land grabbing in twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack will be targeted by the govt on priority.
Though fresh survey is required to find out the extent of land grab and encroachments, govt sources said it would be more than 50,000 acres across the state.
The Authority’s board will present its Rs 2,887 crore budget for FY 2024-25, apart from projects worth Rs 3,500 to chief minister Nayab Singh Saini for approval as he chairs the meeting in Chandigarh.
