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CAG Audit: Odisha Cities See Major Land Grab on Forest Land
30 Sep
Summary
- Over 31 acres of forest land diverted in Bhubaneswar and Puri.
- Illegal constructions include hotels, schools, and housing projects.
- Authorities failed to monitor land use, leading to widespread violations.
A recent audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has uncovered significant violations of land-use regulations in Bhubaneswar and Puri, two of Odisha's burgeoning urban centers. The report indicates that a total of 31.12 acres across these cities have been illegally occupied and utilized in contravention of comprehensive development plans.
Specifically, land designated as environmentally sensitive zones, forest areas, and special heritage zones has been repurposed for residential colonies, educational facilities, hotels, and commercial establishments. The audit highlighted numerous institutions, including Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), which is reportedly occupying 10 acres of forest land for academic and hostel construction.
In Puri, the violations are particularly stark, with 13.65 acres within the Balukhand-Konark wildlife sanctuary being subdivided and sold, despite existing boundary walls and residential constructions. Furthermore, approximately 97.18 acres of forest land in Sipasarubali are being used for hotels and housing projects without mandatory central clearances.
The audit concluded that a lack of effective monitoring by revenue, disaster management, and district authorities has enabled these extensive regulatory breaches and environmental degradations, underscoring a failure to curb unauthorized land conversions and resume illegally occupied land.
