Odisha govt takes possession of lands of ponzi firms

Berhampur, Feb 22: Odisha government has taken possession of over 40 acres of land, belonging to three ponzi companies, in Chhatrapur tehsil of Ganjam district, officials said on Sunday.

Of the total land, 32.210 acres (21.735 acres in Laxmipur and 10.485 acres in Sidhurapalli mouzas) belong to Artha Tatwa (AT) group, 1.766 acre to Safex Infra India Limited in Kanamana and Sindurapalli mouzas and 3.140 acres to Astha India Limited in Humuri mouza, they said.

"We attached and took possession of the land on the direction of Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Cuttack," said Tehsildar (Chhatrapur) S K Sahu.

Earlier, the government had taken possession of over 19.01 acres of AT Group and over four acres of Golden Land Private Limited in Chhatrapur tehsil and over 12 acres of land belonging to Safex Infra India Private Limited in Purushottampur tehsil, they said.

The additional district magistrate of Cuttack had directed the tehsildar (Chhatrapur) and Purushottampur to take possession of the land. "We have acquired almost all land of Ponzi firms," said the tehsildar.

Around four months ago, the tehsildar issued notice to villagers and panchayat officers advising them not to buy or sell land of Ponzi firms. Police have been directed to guard the land. "We assisted the tehsildar in taking possession of the land. We will also keep an eye on it according to high court's direction," a police official said.

PTI