The Odisha government is contemplating action against at least three erring revenue officials including a former Sub-Collector of Balasore and ex-tehsildar of Bhogarai for their alleged involvement in a land scam.
The officials had allegedly favoured a private company to acquire a patch of government land to build a multi-storied hotel near Talasari beach. A probe was ordered following reports in a section of media recently.
RDC (Central Division) Arabinda Padhee on Wednesday told 'The New Indian Express' that the additional district magistrate (ADM) of Balasore was asked to probe the allegation, which was found to be true.
“The probe report suggests the then sub-collector and tehsildar have violated the prevailing government rules to lease out 1.39 acres of government land to the company. They also dishonoured a Supreme Court ruling which clearly denies conversion of wet land to homestead land,” he said.
Padhee said he has already written to the government to take disciplinary action against the former Sub-collector and the tehsildar and asked Balasore collector to place the district cadre official (revenue inspector) under suspension for dereliction of duty.
Though the action is yet to be initiated against the erring officials, it is alleged that some senior officials of the revenue department and the local elected people’s representatives are also involved in the scam.