While the State Government feigns ignorance about the illegal possession of over 100 acres of village forestland by two senior BJD leaders in Ghangapatna Mouza under Chandaka tehsil on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar and the construction of a three-km stretch of road connecting this land, the villagers have foiled an attempt to destroy the evidence.
The villagers foiled the attempt to demolish the boundary wall built around the encroached patches of land as well as the road connecting these. According to the villagers, a bulldozer had been brought to the village on Wednesday evening to demolish the boundary wall and the road when the locals rushed to the spot.
Eyewitnesses said a vehicle of the Forest Department arrived at the spot after some time. later, two officials came out of the vehicle and had a discussion with the driver of the bulldozer. Soon later, both the department vehicle and the bulldozer disappeared from the spot.
Though Rural Development Minister Badri Narayan Patra on Wednesday had claimed that his department has not constructed the disputed road along the forest stretch of the village, he did not reveal the name of the department that was ordered to construct the road.
Besides, Forest and Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh also skipped the query of mediapersons on whether permission was sought from his department and why the department officials had kept mum when the construction of the road was underway.
Ghangapatna ward member Dasarathi Behera said there was a proposal from the block office for construction of the road which was vehemently opposed by the villagers.
He said, “The Government had agreed to conduct two Palli Sabhas in the panchayat to seek consensus of the villagers for construction of the road. The villagers along with the panchayat secretary and sarpanch had waited for the Palli Sabhas, which were not held as no Government officials turned up. We don’t know which department has constructed the road.”
Paikarapur sarpanch Nabin Sethi said his panchayat had received a similar proposal from the block office. However, due to the protests by villagers, the construction work could not take place. “I have informed the decision to the block office on behalf of the panchayat,” he reportedly said, adding that those who own land along this road might have constructed it.
Sources said Khordha district Collector Niranjan Sahu has sought a report on this issue from the local tehsildar.