Non-availability of land for implementation various projects has proved to be a stumbling block in development of Baleswar district.
Among several projects, the opening of Chilika Fresh outlet, a project to supply freshwater and marine fish, prawn, crab etc to the residents of the city, has received a jolt due to land woes.
The decision to open at least five outlets in the town had been taken in a meeting three months ago in the District Development, Coordination and Monitoring Committee meeting chaired by local MP RK Jena, yet sadly, till date no tangible progress was made.
“The district fisheries officer and tehsildar were urged to expedite the necessary works for establishment of fish outlets in the town. The Tehsildar Sadar is to provide suitable land for these outlets. The proposal was to establish one each outlet at ITI square, Police line square ,Fandi square, Sahadevkhunta and Golapokhari area,” said Jena .
Meanwhile, Deputy Director, Fisheries, Sasikanta Acharya said the Revenue Department is yet to give land for the outlets and the ones it has proposed to give are not suitable.
“The land patches which the department is showing will not be favourable for business. However, we are planning to open at least two within a couple of months,” he said.
After identification of land, the same would be given to a private agency for construction and operation of outlets as per its own design and model.
Sadar Tehsildar Rashmirekha Pradhan said, “A few patches were identified for these outlets, yet later on some problems were found. Again other patches are identified yet the department is not keen of taking them stating the location won’t fetch good business.”
“There is a dearth of land in the town. Various options are being considered and a process is on to identify suitable land for these outlets,” she said.
While the administration is finding it difficult to get land for development projects, several influential people have grabbed land in the town but sadly no action is taken against them, said former secretary of Baleswar Bar Association Manoj Nayak.
Activist Amiya Mohanty claimed that the administration while spent about Rs 11.70 crore in last seven years on account of carrying out evictions, yet no tangible action had been taken against the major encroachers , including hoteliers, bus and truck owners in the road between the FM Golai and the ITI square . Claiming that, he has received all information through RTI Act, Mohanty said, “As many as 1,540 rooms for commercial purposes have been constructed illegally in the Bhaskarganj mouza. Several influential persons having money and muscle power have more than one room in the valuable areas.”
Due to sheer inaction of the district administration, the lands are being occupied illegally, he added.