Members of the State Assembly on Thursday expressed concern over vacancies in Revenue Inspector (RI) and Amin posts in the State.
BJD MLA Prafulla Samal lamented saying that land encroachment is rampant across the State and the Government is suffering losses of crores of rupees due to huge vacancies in RI and Amin posts.
Samal said encroached land cannot be demarcated and measured in absence of RIs and Amins. While the State has 6,831 gram panchayats, only 2,271 RI circle are functioning. How can the work be done in a Tehsil without RIs and Amins, he wanted to know.
Congress MLA Narasingha Mishra also questioned how the revenue administration of a district can function without adequate numbers of RIs and Amins.
Another Congress leader Suresh Kumar Routray said while two months have passed since the Cyclone Fani ravaged the State, RIs have not yet submitted a report on house damages. The Government should fill up the RI vacant posts, he said. Replying to the queries of the members, Revenue Minister Sudam Marndi informed the House that 503 RI posts out of sanctioned strength of 2,453 are now vacant. While 75 posts are lying vacant in Bolangir district, the number is 25 in Bhadrak.
The Minister further informed that the RI posts could not be filled up as the model code of conduct was in force earlier. Now, the State Government has begun the process of recruitment, he said.