Bhubaneswar: The Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) is allegedly plotting a conspiracy to take over 10 acre of forest land situated at Pathargadia area of Bhubaneswar. There have been reports that the institute authorities have also tried to suppress the voice of people who protested the move.
KISS is eying the forest land situated at Pathargadia and in a bid to take it over, a Grama Sabha was held near Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar today for conversion of the land. However, it is alleged that to get a judgement in its favour, KISS and KIIT students posing as local residents were made a part of the Grama Sabha. As per allegations, hundreds of students from across Odisha were at the Grama Sabha outnumbering the villagers.
"KIIT is meant only for children of rich and powerful people. It is located near our house but not a single poor youth has been employed there," said a villager.
"We want that KISS should get the land. I am a resident of Pathargadia," said a KISS student present at the Grama Sabha, but when questioned she identified herself as a resident of Ludhipada in Bolangir district and informed that she is studying in KISS since 11 years.
Interestingly, it is also alleged that some villagers raised their voice in protest but they were not allowed to speak at the Gram Sabha. Even the local public representative had objected the idea of handing over the land to KISS.
"While some are voters, other outsiders have been brought here in vehicles of KIIT and KISS. If they had informed us we would have brought people from our village, what was the need of bringing people from KIIT and KISS. I will not support anything illegal and stand with the villagers if they protest against it," said Samiti Member, Suryakanta Samantaray.
"Some people supported the decision in the Grama Sabha but it was also protested by others. However, we gave the permission for conversion of the land," said Sarpanch of Chandaka Panchayat, Rajashri Samantaray.
Now how far is it right to hand over the forest land to a private institution? Moreover, of what use will be the land offered in exchange to residents which is 10 kilometres away from Pathargadia at Kujimahal?
While a few villagers have raised their voices against the unwarranted methods used in the Grama Sabha, KISS authorities did not respond even after being contacted.