Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 3, 2015 :

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has been claiming transparent and accountable governance. But his ‘clean image’ now has come under cloud following some decisions his government has taken in recent weeks.

First, the Patnaik government on Saturday had virtually nullified the state cabinet’s approval on December 19 last of the recommendation of the Task Force headed by Tara Dutt for cancellation of all irregular allotment of plots, flats and houses including 1,791 allotments under discretionary quota by Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), General Administration (GA) department and Orissa State Housing Board (OSHB) since January 1, 1995.

Instead, it has asked for a vigilance inquiry into multiple allotments of land, flats and houses under the discredited discretionary quota (DQ) in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack urban areas since January 1, 1995. And, the vigilance would only probe multiple allotments and not all allotments under the discretionary quota.

One fails to understand why the government should adopt dilly-dally approach to cancel multiple allotments acquired by persons furnishing false affidavits and incorrect information. Violation of terms and conditions of allotment and false affidavit is punishable offence under the Law.

Filing of false affidavits invites punishable criminal offence under section 471, 467 and 468 of the Indian Penal Code. And yet the government has not taken any action on persons indulging in such criminal offenses apparently under pressure from politicians, bureaucrats, media persons and business tycoons.

Now that the state government has finalized the modalities for implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force on allotment of land, flats and houses in Bhubaneswar-Cuttack urban areas under the DQ, there was absolutely no need for vigilance inquiry.

“The Dutt Task Force has already come out with a report in details about misuse of DQ by powerful people in total violation of the law of the land. The terms and conditions of allotment of government land, houses and flats under DQ warrant immediate cancellation. The Vigilance Inquiry is just a white wash” says a top government official.

Secondly, the revenue department is all set to end the legacy of Tara Dutt by virtually dismantling the Special Cell, which played a key role in driving away the land mafia encroaching upon hundreds of acres of government land.

Locking horns with vested interest that included a powerful minister, bureaucrats, journalists and business leaders, Tara Dutt with the help of Special Cell had managed to pull the meager resources for vacating encroachment and preparation of illegal record of rights of 1200 acres of government land in and around Bhubaneswar. Besides, Dutt was instrumental in getting the Odisha Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2014 in place to-day.

But after his ouster, the vested interests have become pro-active and have begun disrupting the ongoing activities in the special cell. Even the honest and efficient revenue officials, who have played a significant role to restore the government land against all odds, have been targeted. Some of them are all set to be transferred later this month as they did not carry the dictates of the powers-that-be.