land scam is in full swing in Jharsuguda with active support of revenue officials:::: By Ajit Nayak

State government’s restriction on transfer of a land belongs to tribal community, has surprisingly meaningless in the industrial district of Jharsuguda. Here tribal people are falling prey in the hands land mafias as a racket has been active in the district in hands in globe with law abiding revenue officials posted here. The land mafias manage to transfer tribal land in favour of a member of the group belong to tribal, depriving the actual land owners from getting the benefit under the provision of rehabilitation and resettlement act of the government. Sitting on key posts of the revenue department of the distinct, the officials supply information about the land enlisted for acquisition for industrial purposes so as to complete the transaction before the government notification. The purchasers get all benefit of the rehabilitation depriving the actual owner. The Anchalik Paribesh Surakhya Samiti, a Jharsuguda based NGO has raised serious question on the allegation land transaction belongs to tribal people and demanded a high level probe to provide justice to the poor tribal of the district.

“We have concrete evidence on the racket of land scam that is quite active in the district with the support of few revenue officials posted in the district. With their help land mafias get information about the land to be acquired in the district prior to its notification. Putting money and muscle power, innocent tribal are forced to sale their land depriving them from getting the benefits of the land acquisition. So we have demanded for a high level probe in this matter”, president of the Samiti, Satya Narayan Rao said.
Souces said, for construction of railway siding of a industrial house located in Bhurkamunda in Jharsuguda district), government’s notification has not yet made but transaction of land belongs to tribal people has been going on in full swing. About one hundred acres of land has already been transacted here. The land belongs to tribal has been purchased by a particular person namely Chitrasen Pradhan The record available from the sub-registrar office shows that he has already purchased about 10 acres70 dismals of land located at Debadihi village by paying a sum of Rs. 2 crores 64 lakhs and 14 thousands only executing various sale deeds during the month of February and March 2009.
“With out any outside support how a poor tribal has made such a huge transaction. He is a daily wage earner resides in Malimunda of Jharsuguda town but how all of a sudden he becomes a ‘crorepatti’. The local officials aware of it but remain silent because of their personal gain. A high level probe is urgently required to expose the unholy alliance between the mafias and revenue officials”, Mr. Rao demanded. “We have also decided to demonstrate before the office of collector if the government does not initiate any action on this issue”, he added.
Sources also alleged that during transaction of the land, steps are taken to enhance the price of the land by paying huge amount through cheque (four times that the market price). Once the transaction is over the cheque are taken back from the seller paying them earlier promised amount in cash. “With this they ensure a huge compensation as the company will have to pay compensation with the highest available price of the land at the time of acquiring the land,”Mr. Rao alleged.
On the other hand the collector (Jharsuguda) Mr. Dhananjay Dash expressed concern over the issue. “Since I have joined the district recently I have no idea about this illegal transaction of land. However I will enquiry the matter and take suitable action to curb such illegal transaction of land in the district”, Mr. Dhananjay Dash told.
It may be mentioned here that such illegal transaction of land was going on in Sambalpur district couple of years ago. Then collector of Sambalpur Bishal Gagan had exposed such illegal transaction of tribal land where few subordinate officials including an ADM were actively involved. Government was forced to make a probe through vigilance department but the collector got the price for exposing the scam. He was transferred from the district immediately. However the people are still dark on the fate of the probe.

Articles on various topics related to the problems and development of western Orissa will be placed in the blogs. So watch this regularly and give your valuable comments.