Around 70 per cent of the land allotted to various entrepreneurs in the Mancheswar and Chandaka Industrial Estates by the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco), is being misutilised, sources said.
A special squad of the Idco during its surprise visits to different entrepreneurs, who were allotted acres of land in industrial estates at concessional rates, found that plots taken from Idco for industrial purposes had been converted into kalyan mandaps, girls’ hostels, motor-spare godowns, educational institutes, cement godowns and car showrooms and other purposes violating the approved land-use policy. Sources said the Idco has cancelled land lease of at least 182 entrepreneurs while 452 have been issued show-cause notice for misutilisation of land so far. Meanwhile, Idco CGM Sangram Keshari Mohanty said strict action would be taken against the violators as per the law. “We are now inspecting the sites. If any misutilisation of land will come to our notice we will act accordingly,” said Mohanty.