To
Sri Suresh Pujari Date-
26.6.24
Hon’ble Minister for Revenue and
Disaster Management
Govt. of Odisha
Sri Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia
Hon’ble Minister for
Forest and Environment
Govt. of Odisha
Sub- Undue
favour shown by Govt. Revenue Officials to
KISS ( Kalinga Institute of
Social science) of Achyut Samant, former MP of Biju Janata Dal in course of diverting 4.032 hects
of valuable forest
land in Patharagadia area under Bhubaneswar Tahasil in favour of KISS at
throw away price – Inquiry
regarding
Dear Sir
We, the concerned citizens and
Civil Society groups bring to your
kind notice the
following issues in connection
with illegal occupation of 4.032 hect. revenue forest
land by Achyut Samant of KISS in
connivance with corrupt officials
of revenue Dept for years together and
subsequent handing over to forest land
in favour of KISS at throw
away price following order of Ministry of Environment
and Forest , Govt. of India.
1. The issue of Achyut
Samant, founder of Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS), Patia,
Bhubaneswar illegally occupying 4.032
hect forest land in Pathargadia Mouza under Bhubaneswar
Tahasil came to limelight through RTI in 2015. Then a complaint was filed
in the Govt. seeking action
against Achyut Samant and restoration of the said land to Govt. fold. The Revenue officials of the State Govt. did not take
any steps for restoration
of the land rather cooperated
Achyut Samant to continue to occupy the land help him develop illegal infrastructure like academic block, hostel, road, etc.) without BDA Plan approval. As ACHYUT Samant enjoyed close proximity with State Govt. officers
and BJD leaders, he succeeded all the infrastructure since 2010. ( it
was reported by Secretary, Dept. of Forest and Environment to Central Govt. on
query dt. 8.2.21).
2. As the State Govt. did not take any action against Achyut Samant, Sri
Subash Mohapatra, RTI Activist filed a complaint
in national Green Tribunal in
2016 bearing case No. OA N. 92/2016
praying for action against KISS for alleged violation of the provision of the Forest ( Conservation) Act, 1980.
While disposing the case, the hon’ble National Green Tribunal
passed order for maintaining pristine
of the forest land, demarcating and erecting fencing work around the land and allowed State Govt.
to consider the application
of KISS for allotment of forest
land in accordance with law.
3. Following the
order of the NGT, the Forest and
Environment Dept. Govt. of Odisha forwarded
the diversion proposal of
KISS dt. 1.11.2017 ( Proposal No. FP/OR/SCH/26930/2017) to
Ministry of Environment and Forest , Govt. of India for
consideration.
4. After a lot of query and considering the
diversion proposal submitted by the
State Govt, Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate change , Govt. of
India accorded in-principle diversion
proposal with series of conditions
on dt. 7.9.21. ( Annexture-1)
5. The major conditions imposed by Central Govt.
are as follows.
i)
The user
agency shall transfer online, the Net Present Value ( NPV) of 4.032
ha forest land being diverted under
this proposal as per orders
of the Hon’ble Supreme Court
dt. 28.3.2008, 24.4.2008 and
9.5.2008. The requisite fund shall be transferred
through online portal in CAMPA account
of the state concerned.
ii)
The State Govt. shall realize penal NPV of five
times of the NPV from the user agency for violation of forest ( conservation) Act ,
1980 under Para 1.21 ( ii) (a) of guidelines.
iii)
The State Govt.
shall initiate disciplinary action against Revenue Department officials responsible for violation and initiate this office
for launching prosecution under
section 3A/3B of the Act.
6. As per RTI
Information obtained from office of PCCF, Odisha dt. 29.5.2023, it was observed
from the letter vide letter No. Memo No. 3070/4F (F.C. Act &lease) -81/2022
dt. 9.6.22 of DFO, Wildlife Division,
Baramunda, Bhubaneswar addressed to
the Regional Chief
Conservator of Forest, Bhubaneswar
Circle, Bhubaneswar that “ KISS has deposited
Rs. 25,24,032 (25.24 lakh) against 10 acres (4.032 Ha) forest land on 30.10.21.
It means the amount per acre of forest land under Pathargadia
Mouza deposited by KISS
is Rs.2.5 lakh per acre. But
the Govt. valuation rate ( DSR Rate of land ) of land under Patharagadia mouza
is Rs. 3.30 crore (Attached). How
the officials of Revenue Dept.
calculated and fixed valuation rate of
forest land under Patharagadia Mouza is Rs. 2.5 lakh per acre. It is alleged
that the revenue officials of Govt. are hand in glove with Sri Achyut Samant , then then BJP MP and
underestimated the land value of forest land and handed over
precious land at throw away price
and caused heavy loss to the State exchequer. We, therefore request you to make
thorough investigation and find
out the officers responsible for it and take
stringent action against them. (
Attached herewith as Annexture-2)
7. With regard
to disciplinary action against
Revenue officials, the PCCF vide Memo No 2364
dt. 7.2.24 has complied to the Central Govt. mentioning that “ Action has been taken by Tahasildar,
Bhubaneswar as per provision of OPLE Act
and Rules on Encroachment of Govt. land. While observing letter of
Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar, it was found
that the Tahasildar in his letter dt. 24.1.24 addressed to Additional District Magistrate,
Revenue, Khorda stated that
the then Revenue Inspector has
booked encroachment case No.
640/21, 641/21 against Kalinga Relief Charitable Trust , C/O-
Achyuta Samant and collected
penalty amount Rs. 30,000.00 vide M.R. No. 053858 dt. 29.8.2012. It is
alleged that in fact no action has been taken any
officials responsible for allowing
Sri Achyut Samant to occupy land
for more than 10 years. The Ministry
has kept condition for
strict disciplinary action
against revenue officials for their
inaction and failure the
restoration of encroached land to Govt. fold. It is crustal clear
that the
revenue officials have been
bribed heavily and allowed Achyut Samant
to continue to enjoy the land for years together.
The Condition of the Ministry of
Environment and Forest and Climate Change “ initiating disciplinary action
against officials “ has not been properly complied. So we request you to kindly
inquire into the matter and find out officers who knowingly allowed Achyut Samant to occupy the land and
put the whole administration in hurdle. (annexture-3)
We, therefore request you to issue direction for
a vigilance inquiry into the matter and take action within stipulated time period.
Yours sincerely
Copy to :
A. Inspector General
of Forest , Ministry of Environment , Forest and Climate Change , A/3,
Chandrasekhar Pur , Bhubaneswar.
B. Chief Secretary,
Govt. of Odisha , Bhubaneswar
