Members of social organisations on Sunday demanded a CBI inquiry into the irregularities in distributions of lands and houses in Bhubaneswar.
Addressing reporters here, members of the Navanirman Samiti, Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhiyan (OSAA), Odisha Durniti Sangharsha Samiti and India Against Corruption (IAC), Odisha said the State Government has been mindlessly allotting lands and houses through the General Administration (GA) Department since 1980 to several influential persons. The CAG report has recently unearthed the irregularities of land allotment from the year of 2000 to 2012 only, but an investigation should be ordered to uncover the rampant corruption that started from 1980, they said.
OSAA convener Pradeep Pradhan said the CAG report has told about the irregularities of only Rs 252 crore between 2000 and 2012, but the real amount involved in corruption would go much high if the CBI probes the cases starting from 1980. The Government has shown huge favours to influential people in these years, he added.
“The Taskforce formed by the direction of the Chief Minister to probe the alleged land and house allotment scam is eyewash,” said Pradhan and added, “We don’t believe in this taskforce.” Pradhan said the ruling party would not want to take action against its MlAs or other party people; therefore, a Central agency like the CBI should be entrusted the cases.
Uma Shankar Mishra, Dr Kulamani and Malay Mohanty also suggested that the State Government appoint a retired judge to head a committee that would investigate the land and house allotment irregularities.