Odisha cancels Illegal Plots/Flats under Discretionary Quota

The Odisha Cabinet led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has accepted the recommendations given by Tara Dutt Committee and took a historic decision by cancelling the illegal allotment of 1,791 plots/flats under the controversial discretionary quota. The decision was taken on December 18, 2014.

All plts/flats/houses allotted by the BDA, CDA and Housing Board since 01.01.1995 under discretionary quota, stand cancelled now. In addition, vigilance probe has been ordered against those who have taken more than one plot/flat under this provision or given false affidavits. Also, a special GA Audit will be conducted into the allotment of flats/plots before 1995.

The Odisha Government had earlier scrapped the discretionary quota following some controversies. However, the involvement of politicians, bureaucrats and some media professionals in the illegal allotment of plots/flats under discretionary quota, created a massive uproar and forced the government to take a tough stand on this matter.

The Cabinet decision was conveyed by Law and Panchayati Raj Minister Arun Sahoo and Urban Development Minister Pushpendra Singhdeo at a press conference in the presence of Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati.