Even though a court order bans transfer of ownership in case of temple land, land brokers have reportedly spread their wings across the district in grabbing such land and creating problems for common people and agriculturists.
Former MlA Uma Ballav Rath in a statement has alleged that some people having vested interest are forcibly taking possession of private and Government endowment land under the protection of a senior BJD leader and Minister.
He said some unscrupulous traders under the pretext of pisciculture are setting up huge embankments without caring for the legal provisions and common people’s interests.
They are not digging the land to create the required depth for the fishery tanks but erecting big embankments, thus preventing flow of water for irrigation and drainage at Gabkund and along the Siarcut river. Similarly, the obstruction of the Nuagaon drainage channel has posed flood threat in the area, he said.
He further alleged that the tank owners are using river water to fill up the illegally made pisciculture tanks without obtaining required permissions. They are draining out the polluted tank water into the river as well.
Stating that he has already informed the concerned authorities time and again for appropriate steps, Rath said the people have decided to break the embankments if the authorities don’t take action by January 31. The Government and district administration will be held responsible for the consequences, he warned.