Allotment of room in Orissa Bhawan, New Delhi, creates furore

Bhubaneswar, Feb 22 (UNI) Preference to bureaucrats in the allotment of rooms in Orissa Bhawan in New Delhi to the Assembly members today created a furore in the House.

The members unanimously complained that they were repeatedly being ignored and the bureaucrats given priority in the allotment of rooms in Orissa Bhawan violating the protocol and demanded the Speaker to give a ruling on it.

Rising on a point of order, government Deputy Chief Whip Mohan Majhi said the Home Department had reserved the room No 108 in Orissa Bhawan from January 26 to 31. But later the room was allotted to IAS officer A Sarangi and his wife Madhuri.

Mr Majhi said he was asked by the Bhawan officials to stay in room No 208.

Aggrieved at the change, he stayed in a hotel and lodged a complaint with the Home Department.

But the Home Department told him that he was asked to stay in room No 208 as the room No 108 was under repair.

Mr Majhi said this was not true and urged the Speaker to direct the authorities to inquire into it and take action against the official responsible for it.

Mr Bimbadhar Kuanar (BJP), Mr Kalpataru Das (BJD), Mr Mahes Sahu (BJP), Mr Pratap Sarangi (BJP), Mr Padma Lochan Panda (Cong), Mr Baidhar Mallick (BJP), Mr Pradeep Maharathy and Mr Jogendra Behera (BJD) told Speaker Maheswar Mohanty that it was a serious issue.

They said such incidents were repeatedly happening and demanded the Speaker to give a ruling on the issue today.

The Speaker directed the government to give a reply on the issue tomorrow and observed that room allotment should be made giving due respect to the warrant of precedence, and action should be taken against the official violating it.

UNI BD SJC RL RN1913