KISS Land-grab Row: How former BJD MP Achyuta Samanta got land worth crores at throwaway prices! 

Sounds strange but true! Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), an institution owned by former BJD MP Achyuta Samanta, acquired a patch of land measuring 10 acres in Pathargadia Mouza in Bhubaneswar at only Rs 25 lakh. 

Now questions are being raised as to how the previous BJD government had given away the land to KISS at such throwaway prices? Why the previous government and the then officials had shown such undue favours to KISS? Who had completed the process of land regularisation when the necessary conditions were not met? 

Back in 2021, the KISS had paid Rs 25,24,032 as the net property value of the above-mentioned patch of land in Pathargadia Mouza. Since the said land had already been under encroachment, the KISS had paid a fine amounting to Rs 1.26 crore. 

To understand the irregularities involved, compare the then benchmark value of land in Pathargadia Mouza. In the same year (2021), the government value of one acre of land in Pathargadia Mouza was Rs 3.30 crore.  It means the value of 10 acres would be around Rs 33 crore. 

Now, doubts are being raised as to how the net property value was so low when the benchmark value was way above. 

Also Read: Forest land diversion in favour of KISS: Tribal Affairs Minister directs Khordha Collector, Odisha Chief Secretary to keep process in abeyance

“When the value of one-acre land was Rs 3.30 crore, they (the previous BJD government) handed the land over to them (the KISS) at just Rs 2.5 lakh per acre. From this, it can be understood how the Naveen Patnaik government has given the land to Achyuta Samanta at throwaway prices by showing undue favour. It is a big land scam,” alleged Pradeep Pradhan, a social activist. 

On the other hand, the KISS has given 10 acres of land in Koraput to the Forest Department in exchange for the costly land in Bhubaneswar. 
When contacted, Koraput DFO, KV Bhaskar Rao said, “They have handed over a private non-forest land to the forest department. Plantation will be done on that land.”

Tribal Affairs Minister Intervenes 

As of now, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram has directed the Khordha Collector and Odisha Chief Secretary to keep the entire regularisation process in abeyance.

On February 21, 2024, the central government had written a letter to the State Forest and Environment Department asking it to hand over the land after verifying compliance with the given conditions. 

The first condition is compliance with the Forest Rights Act 2006. As per the Act, more than 50 per cent of people who attended the ‘Palli Sabha’ should sign. But, it didn’t happen in the case of KISS. A statement with signatures of the Sarpanch, Jungle Adhikaar Committee and Ward member was stated to be the decision of the ‘Palli Sabha’.  

More importantly, no application was invited from people to claim ownership of the land. 

According to advocate Shankar Pani, the villagers living nearby could have made a community claim if the land was being used by them for village works. That also didn’t happen. 

“As per the Forest Rights Act, if people living nearby have a dependence on such forest land, then the land should be settled in their names. In this case, the people might not have been informed to make a community claim,” said Pani. 

Even though KISS had not submitted a compliance report, the state government had transferred the land to it and the former had also published advertisements informing the regularisation of the land. 

Why did the then-government officials turn a blind eye? Did the previous government show undue favour to the then BJD MP Achyuta Samanta? What action will be taken against the official involved? 

When contacted, Odisha Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia said, “I will write to the department to investigate thoroughly to find out whether the then state government had followed proper steps or not.”

BJD MLA Niranjan Bisi said, “KISS is the lifeline of tribals. Lakhs of tribal children are studying there. If the BJP government creates hurdles, we will protest against them.”

When contacted, KISS authorities denied to comment on the matter.