To intensify stir across State
As many as 28 social organisations working together in Odisha on Sunday decided to intensify their stir across the State demanding a CBI inquiry into the land and house allotment scam and the mining scam.
Earlier this year, the CAG in its report had pointed out irregularities and corruption in allotment of lands and houses by the General Administration (GA) Department, the Idco, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and other agencies of the Government.
After the CAG report exposed the Government, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik formed a Taskforce headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Dr Taradatt to probe the matter. But surprisingly, members of the civil bodies said no report has come to the fore so far. “The Taskforce is eyewash to befool the people by diverting their attention from other corruption issues,” said Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhiyan convener Pradip Pradhan.
A member of the united forum, Srinibas Mohanty, alleged that the chief of the Taskforce Taradatt had purchased two plots of land by slightly changing his name and his parent’s name. And later, he returned a piece of land purchased in 1992. “How can he probe the land and house allotment scam impartiallyIJ” asked Mohanty.
Pradip Pradhan said the Ghangapatna land scam has unmasked the real image of the BJD Government. Several influential people including ruling party MlAs and other politicians are involved in the scam, but the Crime Branch arrested some dalit and tribal villagers to protect influential people. The whole truth of the scam cannot be uncovered by a State agency like Crime Branch, he said and demanded a CBI probe into the issue.
Pradhan also demanded stringent action against the Government officials who helped the miners in illegal mining of iron ore and manganese. According to the Central Empowered Committee’s (CEC) report, the State Government is responsible for the mining scam; so, it should only be probed by the CBI,” said Pradhan.
The members said they would organise a convention in November first week in Bhubaneswar to create awareness among people about the State Government’s multiple scams.