Several papers seized; persons quizzed
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch has started investigation into the much hyped misappropriation of money meant for compensation to the land oustees of the Rengali dam project under Deogarh district.
A team of officers, including two DSPs, Srinivas Padhee and Ramachandra Gauda, has conducted inquiry in the tehsil office, the district sub-registrar office, the Utkal Gramya Bank, the United Bank of India and many other places related to the scam. It was alleged that crores of rupees were sanctioned for the land oustees who lost their homes and lands due to the Rengali project in 1973. But the land oustees didn’t get the money; rather it went to the hands of the wrong people with power and influence.
To look into the problems of the land oustees, nine offices were functioning in the undivided Sambalpur and Dhenkanal districts from 1973 to 1992. These offices worked to solve the problems of the people including their rehabilitation and resettlement. Needless to say, these people sacrificed everything for a greater cause of society but they got nothing but betrayal in return. A few middlemen got the cream of the project using their power.
By virtue of fake power of attorney and legal heir certificates, crores of rupees of the land oustees were swindled by unscrupulous people in power whereas the project affected are leading miserable lives decades after completion of the dam. Further, they are yet to get permanent Patta in their new places of resettlement.
In August 2013, the people of Deogarh held a 12- hour Bandh demanding an inquiry into the case. Even they brought specific allegations against former BJD Deogarh MlA Sanjeev Pradhan. Coming under pressure and to pacify public anger, the EOW registered a case in July last.
“Since the inquiry is on, it would be premature to comment anything at this point of time,” said the DSP Srinivas Padhee. “But we have collected many forged documents including legal heir certificates those not issued by the tehsil office,” Padhee disclosed.