Ekamrakanan Land Issue: BJP, Cong Demand Rollback Of Govt Decision

Bhubaneswar: Opposition BJP and Congress on Tuesday accused the state government of trying to destroy the forest cover in the city for commercial use.

Criticising the government’s decision on directing the assistant director of Horticulture, Ekamrakanan to surrender around 20 acre of land to the General Administration (GA) department out of its 25 acres of land, the two parties questioned the intention of the government.

Speaking to media persons, Congress MLA Sura Routray said his party will not let the government succeed in its ‘conspiracy’ to destroy the park. Alleging that the government has not taken any step to develop the farm in the last 20 years, he said the decision on handing over Ekamrakanan land to GA department must be withdrawn, he added.

He further said instead of building commercial establishment by destroying the green cover, the government should carry out beautification works in the park.

Speaking in a similar vein, state BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said the government must justify the reasons for destroying the forest area in the heart of the city to build apartments.

In his reaction to the allegations, BJD MLA Amar Satpathy said the government’s decisions are always backed by sound reasons and the opposition parties should hold patience.

In a letter to the Assistant Director of Horticulture, Ekamrakanan, the Directorate of Horticulture stated, “It is to intimate that a decision has been taken by the Govt. for surrender of Ac 20.192 dec from Ekamrakanan farm to GA & PG Department excepting an area of AC 5.775 dec where there are buildings.”