OTV Impact: Probe begins into Rs 500cr land scam

Bhubaneswar: Within hours after the news telecast on OTV today exposing a land scam worth about Rs 500 crore on the outskirts of the capital city here, the Odisha government ordered a probe into the matter.

Officials of General Administration (GA) department said an inquiry has been ordered in this regard.

“I have asked the Revenue Inspector (RI) to submit a probe report and we will take necessary action against the wrongdoers,” said Debendra Mohapatra, Estate Director, GA department.

Meanwhile, a team of officials of Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and GA department visited the Bharatpur area on the outskirts of the city and took stock of the situation. Moreover, a loudspeaker announcement was made in the area informing that the illegal encroachments would be demolished tomorrow and the large tract of land will be made free.

The demolition drive would to be a herculean task for the officials as nearly 100 half-built boundary walls will be razed by the State government. Official sources said forces will be heavily deployed to keep any untoward incident at bay.

OTV reported that acres of government land worth about Rs 500 crore in Bharatpur mouza under BMC are being sold at throwaway prices by land mafias.