Protest in Bhubaneswar against Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill 2015
Bhubanewswar, Aug 20: A joint protest rally was organised by different organisations against the recent Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Ordinance, 2015 at lower PMG, Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. Around 2000 people across the state participated in the protest. The protester alleged that the ordinance would create a catastrophic situation for the poor marginalized who critically depend on the common (government) land.
It is to be noted that on May 26, 2015 the GovernmentOdisha promulgated Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Ordinance, 2015 for prohibition of grabbing of land owned by the government, local authority, public institutions, BhoodanYagnaSamiti and religious or charitable institutions.
The ordinance shall be applied to the all land situated within the limits of municipal corporation, municipalities, NAC, Development authorities constituted under the Odisha Development authorities act, 1982, Special planning authorities constituted under the Odisha Town planning and Improvement Trust act 1956 and land belonging to the government adjacent to national Highway and Sate Highway and to such other local authority, as the government may by notification specify.
As per the Act land grabbing is now a cognizable offence with criminal liability and no person accused under the Ordinance shall be released on bail. This has a provision of imprisonment for one to seven years besides penalty against offenders.
Besides, the ordinance proposes a special Court for speedy trial. The special Court will have the power of both Civil and Session’s Court and it would dispose the cases within six months.
The protesters alleged that while the state government has utterly failed in regularizing the Government lands occupied by the marginalized for their shelter and livelihood under the Odisha Prevention of Land Encroachment (OPLE) Act 1972 and the Odisha Government Land Settlement (OGLS) Act 1962 Odisha Land Reform Act 1960 over the period, the proposed eviction of the landless and homestead less people from the occupied land would be crime by the government.