State to introduce Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill again in assembly

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill will be presented again in the assembly informed Revenue Minister Bijayshree Routray yesterday after discussion on the expenditure budget of his department. As per the bill land grabbing will become a "cognizable" offence.

Introduced in the house in 2015, the bill had been sent for assent of the President, but it was returned by him mentioning there are some errors in the bill.

The minister said that the bill will be presented again in the house after proper review.

Talking to media persons he said, "On one hand we want to take action against persons who have grabbed government land and on the other hand we also want to pardon the poor people among the land grabbers. These two quotas were not accepted by the President's office, stating they do not match each other, and returned the bill. We will review over it, discuss with authorities of Odisha Assembly and with State Government. If there is any need of serious amendments we will bring it to the assembly again or if can be changed by any executive order, than we will do it."

Leader of Opposition had targeted the government over the issue in the house during the expenditure budget of Revenue department. The expenditure budget of the department was passed amid ruckus in the house over farmers suicides.