Orissa govt promises action against land encroachers

Bhubaneswar, Aug 10 (UNI) Orissa Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal today assured the state Assembly that action will be taken against all those persons encroached land on the Puri-Konark marine drive area.

Replying to the admissibility of an adjournment motion brought by the Opposition alleging valuable land encroached by influential persons, Mr Samal said the state government had already asked the Member Board of Revenue to probe into the matter as per the direction of Orissa High Court.

He said the government would take action on the basis of the findings of the report adding that steps were being initiated to restore the land encroached by the people.

Mr Samal said cases were pending in various courts concerning to the encroachment of altogether 2230 acres of land on the Puri-Konark marine drive area. The government he said could able to acquire 1076 acre of land after the judgment went in favour of the government.

He further said the government had engaged senior advocates to restore nearly 652 acres of land encroached by the land mafias.

Earlier, participating in the debate Congress member S.B.Sahu, Anup Sai, Tara Prasad Bahinipati and Debashis Pattnaik alleged that several influential people had grabbed prime government land close to the sea beach in Puri and demanded strong action against the officials involved in the land scam.

Mr Samal said such matter had come to the notice of the government and assured the members that action woulf be taken against the erring officials found involved in the deal.

UNI DP SJC AB 2116