Odisha cancels allotments of plots, houses under discretionary quota since 1995

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: In an attempt to refurbish its image, the Naveen Patnaik Government on Thursday decided to cancel the allotment of all plots, flats and houses made under discretionary quota since January 1, 1995.The State Cabinet took the decision at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the basis of the report of a three-member task force headed by Revenue Secretary Taradutt.The State Government had constituted the task force four months ago after opposition parties and socials activists demanded a though inquiry into allotments made in favour of politicians, judges, journalists and other prominent persons in violation of various rules.The Task Force was asked to probe into all allotments made under discretionary quota from Jan 1, 1995 to July 31, 2014.The panel probed into all allotment of land, flats and houses in the Bhubaneswar and Cuttack urban areas under the discretionary quota made by Bhubaneswar Development Authority, Cuttack Development Authority, Odisha State Housing Board and General Administration Department.The issue of such allotments had led to a major controversy after it was revealed that Biju Janata Dal Rajya Sabha Member Kalpataru Das and his family members had availed several plots and flats under discretionary quota.Legislator son of Das and BJD legislator Pranab Balabantaray had surrendered two houses in the wake of the controversy.Briefing journalists after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati said that the allotments of multiple plots under the discretionary quota will be probed by the Vigilance Department.A separate audit will be conducted with regard to the allotments made by the General Administration before January 1, 1995.Meanwhile, opposition Congress and BJP termed the action an attempt to refurbish the BJD Government’s image that had been tarnished in the recent months in view of the various scams.They demanded that a probe by CBI or any other independent agencies since the BJD government was also responsible for many such allotments.