Precious land given to Industries by IDCO at highly subsidized rate in Odisha

Precious land given to Industries by IDCO at highly subsidized rate  in Odisha

( exposed  under RTI  dt. 24.1.20)

Dear friends

With objective  to  promote  industrial  growth  and  attract  investment to Odisha , the  State  Govt.  has started  a new venture  i.e., Make-in-Odisha  giving  opportunity  to the  Industrial  houses  for  setting  up   industries in order  to  provide  employment  opportunity  to the youths  of the state.  These  Industries  have been allotted  huge acres  of  land  in different  districts  at  throw away  price and infrastructure  has been  developed  to promote  industries. Nobody knows  how  much  employment  has been  created  by these  industries  which  have been allotted  land  at  cheapest price.  But  it  has come to our  notice  that in view  of availability  of  cheap  land, many  industrial  houses  in name  of setting industry  have taken  huge land  at  highly subsidized  price  just to acquire  land  and  misutilising  the same  for  other  purpose.  This information will be presented later on.

But  when  the  son of the soil (  the  people  of Odisha )  are given  land  @ Rs. 12   to 14 crores  per  acre in Bhubaneswar, IDCO  offers  land @  Rs. 1.5   per acre  in Chandaka and Mancheswar area  which  is  highly  subsidized  price in our  state.  ( I am  presenting  premium  value  of  land  in Bhubaneswar  fixed  by Dept. of General Administration , Govt. of Odisha  in 2014  for  reference.   https://odishasoochana.blogspot.com/2015/05/premium-value-of-government-land-in.html.)     

Time has come to think what  we  people  are  getting benefitted by selling our precious land  at most cheapest  price  to the industries  which are just accumulating and acquiring land  in the name  of industry without any results/ benefits  to our state. I present  this information for  the readers  just  to understand  how  most  valuable  land  is simply leased  out to private industries  at  cheapest  price. Shall we  continue to provide  our  precious  land  to such  industries  in name  of investment. Who are  really  getting benefited  from it. This information  was obtained  under RTI from IDCO dated 24.1.20

Precious land  given Industries  by IDCO at highly subsidized rate  in Odisha

Sl.No	District	Name of  Industrial Area /IE	Approved land rate per acre ( Rs. In lakh)
1	2	3	4
1	Khurda	Bhubaneswar	150.00
2		Mancheswar	150.00
3		Bhagabanpur	150.00
4		Chhatabar	60.00
5		Chandaka	150.00
6		Infovally/EMC Park	65.00
7		I.E., Khurda	60.00
8		IID, Khurda	60.00
9		Food Park, Khurda	60.00
10		Janla	60.00
11		Sarua	40.00
12		Jayamangal	40.00
13		Kahneipur	11.00
14		Jemadei	60.00
15		Gothapatna	60.00
16		Anlapatna	60.00
17		Sea Food Park ( Deras)	70.00
18		Kholadwar	60.00
19		Ramachandrapur	10.00
20		Haridamada, Khurda	20.00
21		Champajhar	20.00
22		Kapileswar	40.00
23	Nayagarh	Nayagarh	30.00
24		Badabhuin	11.00
25	Cuttack	Cuttack	82.00
26		Jagat Pur ( New )	82.00
27		Jagatpur ( Old)	75.00
28		Choudwar	35.00
29		Athagarh R.D. Pur	20.00
30		Athagarh-Ankula	15.00
31		Nuasasan	15.00
32		Nidhipur	11.00
33		Ramdaspur	40.00
34	Kendrapara	Kendrapara	30.00
35		Balabhadrapur	10.00
36	Jagatsingh Pur	Paradip	75.00
37		Paradip ( Udayabhat)	75.00
38		Paradip ( Bhitaragada)	75.00
39		Bodhei	20.00
40	Balasore	Balasore	40.00
41		Somanath Pur	40.00
42		Balagopal Pur	11.00
43		GaneswarPur	40.00
44		Panpana	4.40
45		Srikona	5.50
46		Bampada	22.00
47		Baliapal	10.00
48	Mayurbhanj	Takatpur	15.00
49		Chhancha	15.00
50		Hemachandrapur	15.00
51		Rairangpur	15.00
52	Bhadrak	Bhadrak	25.00
53		Ampro	10.00
54	Jajpur	Jaraka	25.00
55		KalingaNagar I.C.	25.00
56		Chhotaray Pur	20.90
57	Keonjhar	Keonjhar	22.00
58		Barbil	22.00
59		Matakambeda	22.00
60		Sainkula	13.35
61		Bileipada	5.00
62	Ganjam	Berhampur	40.00
63		Auto Nagar-PH-I	33.00
64		Auto Nagar-II	33.00
65		Chhatrapur	30.00
66		Bhanjanagar	11.00
67		Ambapua	40.00
68	Phulbani	Phulbani	11.00
69	Gajapati	Paralakhemundi	8.00
70	Koraput	Sunabeda	11.00
71		Jeypore	11.00
72		Kaki ( Sunabeda)	15.00
73	Rayagada	IID, Rayagada	11.00
74		Muniguda	11.00
75	Sundargarh	Rourkela	82.50
76		Comml. Estate	82.50
77		Kalunga	66.00
78		Mandiakudar	22.00
79		Rajanagar	22.00
80		Sundargarh	16.50
81	Sambalpur	Sambalpur	33.00
82		Basantapur	40.00
83		Rengali	11.00
84	Jharsuguda	Jharsuguda IE	40.00
85		Jharsuguda GC	40.00
86	Angul	Angul	88.00
87		Talcher	11.00
88		Kangula	16.00
89	Dhenkanal	Mahisapat	20.00
90		Gundichapara	20.00
91		Korian	20.00
92		Balarampur	9.90
93		Bhuban	15.00
94		Kamakhyanagar	11.00
95	Bolangir	Bolangir ( Zone-A)	10.00
96		Bolangir ( Zone-B)	10.00
97		Bolangir ( NID) Phase -I	10.00
98		Bolangir( NID) Phase-II	10.00
99		Kantabanjhi	11.00
100		Titilagarh	11.00
101		Patnagarh	11.00
102	Baragarh	Baragarh	33.00
103		Behera	22.00
104	Boudh	Manmunda (NID)	11.00
105	Kalahandi	Kesinga	15.00
106		Borda	3.00
107		Kesinga GC (Kurlupada)	15.00
108		Dakabahali	15.00
109	Nuapada	Khariar Road	15.00
110		Khariar	15.00
111		Khoksa	8.00
112	Puri	Kurki	25.00
113		Palashree	25.00
114	Subarnapur	Babupali	11.00
115	Nabarangpur	Semela	5.00
116		Bamani	3.00

                                                                (  This  order  shall be  effect  from 25.10.2019 )

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 19.3.20

Year-long Organised Loot of Rs. 5 Crores by officials of Jajpur Tahasil, Odisha

Year-long Organised Loot of Rs. 5 Crores by officials of Jajpur Tahasil  groomed and protected  under  influence of Nabin Patnaik Govt. in Odisha

Dear friends

Mindless Loot  of the  public  property  and State Exchequer by  leaders of Biju Janata Dal, officials, mafias  during chief-ministership  of Nabin Patnaik   has become  order of the  day  in Odisha. Not even a single office incuding Gram Panchayat and Primary Cooperative Society has been left out from vicious  circle of corruption.  It has been deep-rooted in every sector. No doubt  credit  goes  to  Chief Minister  under his misrule  and maladministration,  corruption has become  all-pervasive and making few  section of  people wealthy  and  others  like 70  lakh families ( 3 crore people)  becoming  poor  who are  unable  to get  two square  meal  in a day and dependent on Govt. rice for  their survival.

Here  is  presented  how  a group  of   21 officials of Jajpur Tahasil  under Jajpur district  successfully  looted  state exchequer  in organized way  for  years together and  protected  by  Nabin Patnaik Govt.   in spite  of  recommendation of Board of Revenue, Cuttack   to the State  Govt.  for  disciplinary  action. RTI Expose  and subsequent  intervention of  Lokayukta, Odisha  forced   State  Vigilance  to  file  Criminal  case against  the  officials at last.  Time  will  tell  what  action is awaited  against  these  corrupt officials  who have been  given  promotion  under  influence  of  corrupt  regime.

A.      On 25.7.2019., Sarbeswar Behura, RTI Activist  had  filed RTI Application to the PIO, office  of Collector, Jajpur seeking  copy of the Special Audit Report  of  Audit  Team of Board  of Revenue, Odisha  conducted into fund  collected  and utilized within period of  2006 to 2016. The Report was  submitted to the Collector, Jajpur  in 2017 who kept  it pending  for the reasons  known to him .On 10.9.19, the PIO, office  of  Collectorate, Jajpur  supplied  the   copy  of Audit  Report   which  was found incomplete.

B.      It was observed that as per the Board’s memo No. 206 /Aud. Dt. 2.4.16., Special audit team of Board of Revenue conducted audit on misappropriation of Govt. fund in Jajpur Tahasil  within period  of 1.4.2006 to 5.4.2016.  Audit was conducted from 5.4.16 to 31.8.17.

C.      The Special Audit Report No. 02/2017-2018 submitted to Govt.  has  made  detailed  description  of  how   around Rs. 5 crore has  been  misappropriated  by a bunch  of Govt. official  of Jajpur  Tahasil   starting  from Tahasildar to Head Clerck, Nazir  and many  others. The report has highlighted misappropriation of  Rs. 5  crore by  21 officials of Jajpur  Tahasil including 8 Tahasildars  over  period of 10 years. The  Audit  has  strongly  recommended for  departmental  proceedings  and /or prosecution  at the  earliest moment under OCS (CAA &A) Rules, 1962/OCS (PENSION) Rules, 1992 on the basis  of audit paras.  The details of loot are as follows.

·         52 nos of cheque worth Rs. 3,06,22,438. 00  towards royalty  dues were  received from different Executive Engineers. None of them are taken to receipt side of the cash book but deposited under different treasury challan. But while analyzing the closing balance of general cash book , entire amount of Rs. 3,06,22,438.00 was reduced from available cash in hand in different dates and thereby misappropriated.

·         Illegal transfer of Land Acquisition money amounting to Rs. 34, 65,237.00 to the personal account of Rajat Kumar Routray, Ex-Nazir  of Tahasil made by the Tahasildar concerned and after detection of the same by audit, it  was recovered  at the spot.

·         An amount of Rs. 1,39,68,963.00  was misappropriated by way of showing  expenditure  in shape of cash  as against actual expenditure  in shape of cheques  as revealed from different bank accounts  of the Tahasildar, Jajpur.   

·         An amount  of Rs. 72,432.00  received through cheques  from RW division, Jajpur  on 27.8.2007 issuing a money receipt. The said amount taken to cash book. Then encashed the  said cheque. The same amount  was not  deposited into the treasury rather  a forged  treasury challan was prepared  and kept  in Tahasil  record showing  fake deposit particulars  into the treasury.

·         A sum of Rs. 13,13,756.00  was misappropriated  out of Users’ fee  cash balance (  collected  for issue  of income  certificate, caste certificate  etc.)  by showing irregular  expenditure  without any supporting vouchures.  

D.    Sri Sarbeswar Behura  filed  complaint  petition  dated 26.9.19  in the Lokayukta, Odisha  seeking  detailed inquiry into the matter  and legal action against  all officers involved  in this scam.  Taking  cognizance  of the matter ( LY  Case  No. 371/2019) , the Lokayukta, Odisha issued notice  to the Collector, Jajpur  and Director, State  Vigilance  seeking  report  about  status  of inquiry , if any  conducted  so far within 3  months.

E.    This  inquiry was suppressed  by both  Collector, Jajpur  and  State  Vigilance  for  two  years.  After  notice of Lokayukta,  the  Vigilance  started  the  inquiry.  On 6.3.20, the  Vigilance  produced  the detailed  report  after  filling  criminal case  against  all the  officials . the  details is as follows.

Case No. 1 - Cuttack Vigilance P.S. Case No. 19 dated 18.7.2019  u/s 13(2) r/w 13(1) (c ) (d)  of P.C. Act , 1988/409/477-A/120-B IPC  has been  registered  against Sri Rajat Kumar Routray, Ex-Nazir  and Sri Laxmikanta Mishra , OAS, Ex-Tahasildar , Jajpur Tahasil for misappropriation of  Rs. 34,65,237.00  after receipt of approval  from Government  through vigilance Directorate.

Case No.-2  Sri Rajat Kumar  Routray, Ex-Nazir ( Group-C), Sri Sarat Chandra Barik, Ex-incharge  Head Clerck  ( Retd.) , Sri Ajay Kumar Sahu, Head Clerck, Sri Gourahari Behera , Ex-Tahasildar, Smt. Mamata Barik, Ex-Tahasildar , Jajpur , all ex-officials of Jajpur Tahasil being connived with each other  misappropriated  a sum of  Rs. 3,06, 22, 438.00  from existing  cash available  in the Tahasil  showing deposit of the same  in State Bank of India, Jajpur. But  they actually  deposited the cheques ( 52 nos)  received from different executive Engineers  towards royalty  for use of sand , murrom etc.  through challan  during the period  from 31.3.2009 to 31.10.2013. They  have manipulated  different Tahasil records  in this regard  by not entering the cheques  in the cheque receipt register, cash book. They fraudulently  issued  the Challan without mentioning the cheque No. & date. Though , they  deposited cheques  in the bank  through treasury , but they have not shown the credit  of the cheque amount  in the subsidiary  Register  and  have shown debit  of cash  equal to  cheque amount  in the said register. The DSP, Vigilance , jajpur Unit  has  recommended  to Director, Vigilance  dt. 28.2.20   to pass order  for registration of two criminal cases  ( a criminal case  against  Sri Rajat Kumar  Routray, Ex-Nazir , Sarat Ch. Barik, Ex-incharge Head Clerck,  Sri Ajay Kumar Sahu, ex-head clerck,  and Sri Gourahari Behera, ex-Tahasildar ,  for  misappropriation of  Rs. 79, 52, 613.00  during period  from 31.3.2009 to 28.5.2010. Another Criminal case  against Sri Rajat Kumar  Routray, Ex-Nazir , Sarat Ch. Barik, Ex-incharge Head Clerck,  Sri Ajay Kumar Sahu, ex-head clerck and Mamata Barik, Ex- Tahasildar for  misappropriation of Rs. 2,26,69,825.00 during  the period  from 20.9.2010  to 31.10.2013.

Case No.-3  DSP, Vigilance, jajpur  has recommended  to Director, State Vigilance  to  file criminal  case  against Sri Rajat Kumar Routray, Sarat Ch. Barik, both Nazirs, Smt. Mamata Barik,  and Gourahari Behera , Ex-Tahasildars  and others  for  misappropriation of Rs. 1,39,68,963.00  by way of showing  expenditure  in shape  of  cash  as against  actual expenditure  in shape of  cheques   as revealed  from different bank  accounts of the  Jajpur Tahasil.

Case No.-4  an amount of  Rs. 72,432.00  received through  cheque  from Rural Works Division , Jajpur  on 27.8.2007  through a money receipt. The said  amount was taken  to cash book  and re-cashed by Rajat Kumar Routray . But the  above amount  was not deposited  in the treasury  rather  a fake  treasury challan  was kept  in Tahasil  record  showing  fake deposit particular  in the treasury. Sri Rajat Kumar  Routray  received  this  cheque  No. T987655 dt. 14.8.2007   for Rs. 72,432.00    and entered the same in subsidiary  Register  ( SR-1)  on 27.8.2007. On the same day Routray  had shown deposit  of the said  cheque  in State Bank of India, Jajpur vide  challan  No. 10 dt. 27.8.2007  and mentioned the same  on expenditure  side  of subsidiary register  and the  concerned challan  was duly  signed  by  the then Tahasildar  Sri Bijay  Kumar  Khandayatray. As  intimated  by  the  Treasury Officer, Jajpur  vide letter No.  1063 dt. 9.12.19, Treasury challan  No. 10  dt. 27.8.07  was neither  deposited  nor passed  in the District Treasury , Jajpur  and Rs. 72, 432.00  was not accounted  for in  the same day  in account  No. 0853  under royalty head.  Whereas on the same day  i.e.,  27.8.07  an amount  of Rs. 72, 432.00  was debited  from Rural Works Division , Jajpur  vide cheque No. T987655 dated  14.8.2007  and not credited  in any Govt. head.  In spite of several efforts, the original vouchures  tworads  withdrawal of of the above amount  by the Nazir  could not be traced. DSP, Vigilance, Jajpur  has recommended  to Director, State Vigilance  on 3.3.20  for  intitation of  departmental action  against Sri Rajat  Kumar Routray , Ex-Nazir  with  recovery  of misappropriated amount  from him.

Case  No. 5  A sum of  Rs. 13,13,765.00  was misappropriated  out of Users’ fee  cash balance . the EO  has recommended on 2.3.20  for  registration of criminal case  against  Sri Rajat Kumar Routray, Sri Ajay Kumar  Sahu, Smt. Mamata Barik, ex-Tahasildar,  for  misappropriation of Rs. 12, 11,335.00  from 1.6.2010 to 6.2.2014  showing fake purchase  of different articles.

On 13.3.20, the  Lokayukta, Odisha  has ordered  to  Director, Vigilance, Cuttack  to  take prompt action and ensure that  guilty officials  involved  in corruption  are  punished  severely  by the  competent courts.

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 18.3.20