Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Information about allotment of land /plot by GA during 1990-1995 is kept secret

Information about allotment of land /plot by GA during 1990-1995 is kept secret and denied under RTI by officials of GA Dept.

  • ·         A good number of officers, political heavy weights, political leaders and powerful people  have taken multiple plots  by twisting the plotted  schemes-1989   in their favour.
  • ·         GA Dept.  is maintaining top most secrecy  in the matter of disclosure of said information.
  • ·         This corrupt coterie prevented these land records from accessibility by Task Force in 2014.
  • ·         Despite order of Information Commission and First Appellate Authority, the information is not provided. Magnitude of irregularities and illegalities  in allotment of plot is  quite thinkable. 
  • ·         If it will be disclosed, the Pandora Box of illegal plot grabbing of GA Dept during  chief ministership of Biju Patnaik in 1990-95 will be opened up.

Dear friends
After CAG expose about huge irregularities and illegalities in respect of allotment of land by GA, BDA, CDA and Odisha State Housing Board in 2014, the State Govt. constituted a Task Force under chairmanship of Dr. Taradatt,the then Secretary, Dept. of Revenue and Disaster Management, Govt. of Odisha  to  review allotment of land   since 1995 and recommend  for taking further action by Govt.  The assignment of review of land since 1995 was questioned by the opposition parties and Civil Society Groups. Why the Govt. did not include land /plot allotted during Chief Minister ship of Biju Patnaik from 1990 to 1995 within purview of investigation by Task Force.

While submitting the Report in Nov.2014, the Task Force has mentioned that the Committee was not provided the information by the officials about the land/plot allotted to 3000 allottees during pre-1995 period. For which the Task Force could not reach  at the conclusion  whether the  allottees allotted plot  by GA Dept.  have taken multiple plot. Keeping it in view, the Task Force Committee recommended for  review and audit of land/plot allotted in pre-1995 period.

After disclosure of the Report, RTI Application dated 7.3.15  was submitted to GA Dept. seeking the following information.

1. copy of  the Principles and Applications for allotment of  Lands at Bhubaeswar  issued by then Services and Political Dept.  in 1970 following which the land was allotted.  ( please follow Taradatt  Task Force Report , page No- 60)
2. copy of the plotted Scheme declared in 1987 for allotment of Govt. land  in new capital Bhubaneswar for residential purpose.
3. copy of the plotted  scheme declared by Govt. in  1989 for residential colonies at Bharatpur, Ghatikia, Shampur, Aiginia.
4. list of  plots allotted to different persons with their name and address  in 1990 and 1991  in Bharatpur, Ghatikia, Aiginia and nearby villages  through lottery which held on dated 24.6.1991, 25.6.1991 and 26.6.1991  . ( please follow Taradatt Task Force  Report, page-62)
v. Provide copy of Resolution No. A/L(rnst.) 70/96-15568/CA dated 9.11.2000.

As the PIO  and the First Appellate Authority did not respond my RTI Application, Second Appeal dated 1.7.15 was filed to Odisha Information Commission. After span of 3 years, Odisha Information Commission started hearing  of the Case ( Second Appeal No. 1647/15)  and directed the  First Appellate Authority to hear  and dispose the case.  On 2.2.18,   The First Appellate Authority heard the case  and opined that  “  the information sought for  by the applicant  does not come  under any exempted  category  hence there should not be  impediment  in supplying the information. He  directed  the PIO to supply the information within 15 days.  But though the time limit  has passed, the PIO  has not provided the information.

Comments
1.       Task Force  was denied   the said information for which  the Committee could not complete the investigation.
2.      Despite recommendation of Taradatt Committee Report, the  comprehensive  list of allotment of plot/land  by GA in pre-1995  has not yet prepared .  
3.      Similarly, the information under RTI is also denied  by GA Dept. officials since four years.

4.      It is proved that there is huge scam and manipulation and irregularities in allotment of land/ plot by GA dept from 1990 to 1995  for which  utmost secret is maintained in respect of disclosure of information about allotment of plot  by GA .
5.      During this period  many IAS officers like Tarun Kanti Mishra, Sri Upendra Behera , Sri Bijay Sharma, IPS  and many others have taken  multiple plots   and filling false affidavit  by manipulating   and redesigning the plotted schemes, 1989  in order to suit  their interest of  grabbing number of plots  in Bhubaneswar. Many IAS, IPS officers, Ministers, MLAs   have taken multiple plots  from BDA, CDA, Housing Board and GA.  These officers are nurtured and protected  by  Nabin Patnaik Govt.
6.      In order to protect these officers  and political people,  GA Dept. is trying hard  not to disclose the  said information.

However, my fight for disclosure of said information and bringing the land –grabbers to limelight  will continue for greater interest of the State.

Pradip Pradhan
M-9937843482
Date- 28.2.18




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