BHUBANESWAR: Even as investigation into the Ghangapatna land scam involving two BJD leaders is still on, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Bijayshree Routray on Tuesday said about 70 acres of land are found to be under doubtful possession.
Preliminary report suggests that 607.88 acres of land is in the records of Revenue Department and some of the land had been leased out at different points of time.
However, about 70 acres land are found to be in doubtful possession and may have been illegally transferred, Routray told reporters.
The Minister said the land under doubtful possession will be taken over by the Government.
The Department has not received any information about the area leased out and persons to whom Government land has been allocated. Besides, it is yet to be ascertained whether there is any forest land in the area under scrutiny, he said.
The Minister said the Revenue Department has not given any permission for construction activity at the disputed site. It is not clear as to which Government department gave permission for construction of approach road and the source of funds for such construction.
Earlier, while clarifying that the land belongs to Revenue Department, the Forest Department in its report said permission of the Centre is required for any non-forest activities as per Forest Conservation Act, 1980.