Odisha Govt To Provide Land Pattas To People Displaced For Construction Of Hirakud Dam, Others

Bhubaneswar: In a historic move to resolve land issues in different places, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday took an in-principle decision to allot land pattas to people.

It was also decided to distribute land pattas (Records of Right) to people in Jharsuguda, who were earlier displaced for the construction of multi-purpose Hirakud Dam project

It is worth noting that during his tour of districts, 5T Secretary V K Pandian received several land-related complaints from the people.

People had apprised the 5T Secretary about the long-standing problem of Hirakud Dam displaced persons, land right issues of people residing on government land for a long period of time, ryot issues and several other similar issues.

After 5T Secretary apprised the Chief Minister of these issues, the decision was taken at a meeting held on the direction of the Chief Minister.

Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary Revenue Department Satyabrat Sahu, 5T Secretary VK Pandian, Collectors of Ganjam and Jharsuguda and other senior officers were present in the meeting.

It was decided at the meeting to allot pattas to the people after permanent resolution of land-related issues.

The problem of Hirakud Dam displaced persons in Jharsuguda district is of over 50 years. It was decided to resolve the land-related issues of 19 villages which include 18 villages of Lakhanpur tehsil and one village of Jharsuguda tehsil.

A total of 1749 families will be given rights over about 3231 acres of land.

Distribution of pattas will start in the 5 villages – Limeithikra, Sahasbag, Chitlachipalli, Patrapalli and Duanmunda – in December.

5T Secretary visited Ganjam district on August 26. After listening to the problems of the people there, the land issue was resolved in just 5 days.

According to the decision of the meeting, 883 people of 17 villages of Sorada block of Ganjam district will be allotted pattas of homesteads and patta distribution process will be completed by September 22, 2023.

Similarly, 168 people will be given pattas for farmlands and the process will start from October.

The Chief Minister has directed various departments and District Collectors to take timely steps to resolve the various grievances of the people. He will review its progress in mid-September this year