House committee to probe land scam in Bhubaneswar:Speaker

Bhubaneswar, Apr 2 (UNI) Orissa Assembly Speaker Maheswar Mohanty today agreed to constitute a House Committee as demanded by the Opposition Congress to probe into the land scam in and around the capital city.

The Speaker, who initially announced to give his ruling on the Opposition's demand during the day and refused to allow a debate on the land scam, later agreed to set up a committee following a furore in the House leading to adjournment, twice for 45 minutes.

It all started when the House, which was extended for a day, assembled at 1030 hrs.

Orissa Gana Parishad (OGP) member Arun Dey, alleged the General Administration Department held by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was protecting the interest of few IAS officers, builders and land mafias.

He alleged prime land of the city had been handed over to individual with the connivance of senior officials and named two retired IAS officers involved in the irregularities.

Mr Dey said one of the IAS officer, against whom the government has gone to the High Court challenging his decision on allotment of a prime land, had been appointed to the State Election Commission (SEC), a constitutional body.

Congress member Nalini Kanta Mohanty alleged a Rs 1000 crore land scam here and demanded a debate on the issue suspending other business.

He was soon joined by Congress Chief Whip Satya Bhusan Sahoo who insisted that the House must take up an adjournment motion in this regard moved by the Opposition.

However, the Speaker refused to entertain any adjournment motion stating that the House had been extended for a day only to take up the Orissa Professional Education Institution Bill-2007 and allowed the members to raise their submissions.

However, the Opposition remained adamant in their stand forcing the Speaker the adjourn the house for 15 minutes.

The house was again adjourned for another 30 minutes by Deputy Speaker Prahallad Dora. Later, when the house reassembled after the second adjournment, Mr Mohanty announced that a committee would be constituted to probe into the land scam and proceeded with other business of the house.

UNI