Settlement Of Govt Land Under Educational Institutions: Odisha Govt Issues Deadline To Submit Report

The Odisha government on Wednesday began the process for the settlement of government lands under the possession of government/ aided colleges and schools.

A meeting in this connection was held on August 9, 2021, chaired by the Chief Secretary of Odisha, and the minutes of the same were notified on Wednesday by the Odisha Higher Education Department.

The Higher Education Department and the School and Mass Education Department were advised to furnish to the Revenue and Disaster Management (R&DM) Department within 15 days, the approximate extent of government land, under possession of government as well as aided colleges and schools, which requires being settled/ recorded in their name along with the approximate market value of such land.

The Revenue and Disaster Management Department has been advised to work expeditiously to bring the matter before the State Cabinet for a policy decision on settlement of the government land in favour of the government and aided schools and colleges.

It is pertinent to mention here that a meeting was held on the same issue back on February 11, 2020 under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary of Odisha. However, it was resolved today that the decisions taken on the last meeting (February 11, 2020) will be upheld.

All land, irrespective of extent of area, under occupation of standalone Government Degree Colleges (including autonomous and non-autonomous Government Colleges) and standalone Government Higher Secondary Schools (Erstwhile + 2/ Jr. Colleges) will be recorded in the name of Higher Education Department and School & Mass Education Department respectively.

However, in the case of composite colleges (Where a Degree College co-exists with a Higher Secondary School), the land, irrespective of extent of area, shall be recorded separately; i.e. in the name of Higher Education Department for the area under occupation of the Degree College wing and in the name of School & Mass Education Department for the area under occupation of the Higher Secondary School wing.

Where such splitting of land is not possible due to practical problems and inconveniences, the entire land will be recorded in the name of the Higher Education Department.