Sunday, September 24, 2017

NGT starts hearing of Complaint case on Illegal KIMS forest land

NGT starts hearing of   Complaint case   on KIMS forest land illegally occupied by KIIT

Dear friends

On 20.9.17, National Green Tribunal heard the Case No.  65/2017/EZ  & M.A. 211/2017/EZ  filed  by Subash Mohapatra vs Govt. of Odisha  challenging  illegal and unauthorised  use  of forest  land  by Achyut Samant-led-KIIT  for  construction of  building  for  KIMS ( Kalinga Institute of Medical Science). NGT   has asked all the opposite  parties  i.e.,  Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, Govt. of Odisha, District Collector, Khurdha, Divisonal Forest Officer, Chandaka Wildlife Division, Bhubaneswar  to file affidavit  by  1.11.2017.  KIIT  was also allowed  to file affidavit.

In his complaint petition, Dr. Subas Mohapatra  has pointed out   that Plot no 516 in Patia Mouza in Bhubaneswar tehsil is having an extent of 55 Acres of forest land mostly of Jungle-2Kisam, a category of forest land under Revenue Khata has been encroached by KIIT  for constructing educational institution and medical college. Further Record of Rights is in the name of Industrial Development Corporation and the same has been transferred in favour of IDCO without obtaining approval from central government as required under Forest Conservation Act 1980.

The CAG in its audit report  has  observed   that around 34.41 Acres of forest land against which no forest clearance from MOEF had been obtained so far(as of December 2012) while a hospital building and structures were constructed on such land in blatant violation of forest conservation act 1980.

Though General Administration Department, Government of Odisha wrote letter dt. 30.12.2012 to Secretary KIIT, for submission of proposal for diversion of forest land of an area of 10.91 acres , the authority of KIIT  has  not  complied it so far.

Despite  being aware about  illegal  construction over forest land  by KIIT, the State Govt. remained mute spectator  and did not take any step to recover the land  due  to  unholy alliance of  Achyut Samant  with  State administration.

Sri Sankar Prasad Pani, learned environment lawyer is  pleading the case.

This is the second case  filed  against KIIT in NGT.

Pradip Pradhan
M-9937843482 
Date-23.9.17




1 comment:

  1. Because of this reason why transfer of ownership and other relevant functions should be stopped by idco.

    ReplyDelete