Apartment on Bhubaneswar Industrial Land

Bhubaneswar: Taking advantage of a lackadaisical attitude and lack of coordination between the General Administration and Personal Grievances, the Revenue Department and agencies like the Bhubaneswar Development Authority and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) a real estate firm Urban Living Builder have managed to construct an apartment illegally on a patch of land allotted for industrial purpose in the Info City area in Smart City Bhubaneswar.

However, after the Mohan Charan Majhi government took over the reins of the State, the GA Department woke up from deep slumber and shot off a letter on September 21, 2024 in objection of the apartment coming up on industrial land to the Khordha district Collector, Sub-Collector and Tehsildar.

Illegal Construction on Industrial Land

Notably, the GA Department Under Secretary to Government in his letter No.27912 dated 29.9 2024 to the Khordha Collector, Bhubaneswar Sub-Collector and Tehsildar stated that Plot No.309, Khata No.493 an area of 5,000 decimals in the Patia Area was leased out in the favour of Tejpal Singh, proprietor of Allied Industries for industrial purpose.  

The lease deed was registered vide RLD NO.9295 dated 17.12 1979 by the Bhubaneswar Tehsildar and the lease was sanctioned for a period of 99 years. Later, Khata-No, 474/5 was prepared by prepared by the Tehsildar in the name of Tejpal Singh, proprietor of Patronic Allied Industries in Sthithiban status. 

However, later the GA Department during verification found the kissam of the plot No. 309/1694 has been converted to Gharbari classification under Sections 8A of OLR Act 1960 as per orders passes in the Case No as per the Case No, 7114 /2022. 

Influential Backing for Builder

During field inspection by the GA Department officials, it was found that a multi-storied residential building named ‘URBAN MAJESTIC’ was under construction. Shockingly, the BDA and BMC have accorded permission for construction of residential complex, the GA Department letter mentioned.

However, the GA Department has asked the Bhubaneswar Tehsildar to correct the Record of Rights in ‘Pattadar status’ by deleting ‘Sthitiban’ and also appeal before the appropriate authority to challenge the order in the case No. 7114/2022 for arbitrary and illegal conversion of kissam of the land under sections 8(4) of the OLR Act,1962 by following due process of law.

 

But after the GA Department’s notice, the builder moved the Orissa High Court, which has directed the status quo to be maintained on the aforesaid land.

The High Court in its order said, “At this juncture, Learned Counsel for the State submits that the instant case may have certain dimensions pertaining to the Orissa Land Reforms (OLR) Act and the Orissa Government Land Settlement (OGLS) Act. 

Homebuyers Left in Uncertainty

It is, however, clarified that this court is not inclined to go into the merits of the case at this stage. Rather, this court is of the opinion that if any issues survive, they should be relegated to the appropriate authorities.”

The builder, who has the backing of some influential persons is blatantly carrying out construction of the apartment illegally on the aforesaid land, originally owned by the GA Department cocking a snook at the government. The BDA,BMC, RERA and the Tehsildar are surprisingly silent over the issue.

However, some home buyers who have invested their money in the Urban Majestic Apartment have been left in the lurch due to wrangle between the government and Urban Living Builder.

Meanwhile, the builder is issuing big advertisements trying to hush up the matter.