BHUBANESWAR: In what could be a curious case of undervaluation, the Health and Family Welfare department has been directed to pay an additional Rs 35.5 crore to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) for the 25 acre temple land it acquired for setting up the Shree Jagannath Medical College and Hospital (SJMCH) in Puri in 2021.
Undervaluation of land is often associated with property dealers, but the revelation that a government department allegedly underpriced Shree Jagannath temple land has left many within the administration surprised. The matter surfaced when the chief administrator of SJTA raised objections in January last year, pointing out that the Health department had paid only Rs 2 crore in 2020 for the sprawling 25-acre plot, an amount far below the existing benchmark valuation.
According to officials, the deal was processed at a price which was far from realistic, triggering concerns within SJTA about the loss of significant revenue meant for the temple’s corpus fund. The 25-acre land parcel consisting of seven plots in different kisams in Samangara mouza, a prime location under Puri tehsil, was utilised for establishment of SJMCH, pending sale deed registration and record of rights (RoR) issuance.
The SJTA claimed that as per the Shree Jagannath Temple Act, the managing committee of the shrine is competent to decide on such transactions.
“Moreover, Shree Jagannath Mahaprabhu, being a privileged raiyat and perpetual minor as per legislations of the state, revenue interests of the deities are to be fully protected,” it informed the government in a written communication and emphasised that the valuation of the temple lands for transfer to the SJMCH be done as per the latest benchmark valuation with gharabari kisam reference for entire land parcel.
The issue was taken up at a recent high-level meeting chaired by chief secretary Manoj Ahuja, where the discrepancy was discussed in detail and it was decided that the Health department will have to pay Rs 35.5 crore more to the SJTA. “As per the current benchmark valuation of Rs 1.5 crore per acre for gharabari kisam (homestead land), the total cost of 25 acres comes to around Rs 37.5 crore. The Health department had paid only Rs 2 crore. It has now been decided that an additional Rs 35.5 crore must be paid to SJTA,” said an official who attended the meeting.
The SJTA has been asked to take steps for formal approval of the proposal in their managing committee and seek the government’s nod. Once the payment is made, the collector of Puri will facilitate for early registration of sale deed, issue RoR in favour of the Health and Family Welfare department and conversion of the land into gharabari kisan from the existing kisams.
The Finance department was also asked to make necessary budgetary support for making the above payment by the Health department.