The Congress on Monday sought an answer from the Chief Minister on illegal encroachment of Lord Lingaraj Temple land by a powerful mining mafia, who is yet to be arrested despite recommendations from the Revenue Secretary to the Khordha Collector for a Crime Branch inquiry.
In a Press conference, party spokesperson Manoj Mohapatra said on September 23 in 2020 the then Revenue Secretary had asked the Khordha Collector to undo the illegal land transfer through record correction, illegally done in favour of a private person and had also directed him to inform the Crime Branch.
He alleged that a powerful mining mafia has encroached Lord Lingaraj's land through illegal and fraudulent means.
"Since nothing has been done yet, on what circumstances the Collector didn't inform the Crime Branch or undo the transfer despite order from the Principal Secretary and on whose behest, the Collector didn't move an inch," he questioned.
Mohapatra further asked why the land grabber is not arrested yet and why no steps have been taken against the officials who are hand in glove with the mining mafia.