Memorandum on KSS to Minister for Revenue and DM, Odisha

 

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