Odisha moots merger of BDA, CDA, PKDA

Single development authority may curb irregular land allotments

The state government has mooted the creation of Odisha Capital Region Development Authority (OCRDA) by merger of the three existing development authorities — Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) and Puri-Konark Development Authority (PKDA).

Apparently aimed at streamlining implementation of development projects, the single development authority is also expected to curb irregular allotments of land and houses. The OCRDA would be modeled on the lines of the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority and Delhi Metropolitan Development Authority.

“This was a preliminary meeting and we would hold several meetings before it (OCRDA) takes shape. The regional body would work for infrastructure development besides land issues,” said panchayati raj secretary Deoranjan Singh, also in charge of the Housing & Urban Development department.

Asked if the OCRDA could check irregularities in land allotments, he said, “The creation of single development authority would lend more capacity and powers and hence curb the menace (of irregular land allotments).”

Preliminary discussions on creation of OCRDA were held today at a meeting chaired by development commissioner Aditya Padhi. In its comprehensive development plan (CDP) for Bhubaneswar, IIT-Kharagpur had suggested creation of a regional development authority for uniform development of the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar-Puri region.

Meanwhile, the state government which has been facing embarrassment on allotment of plots and houses to influential persons in the garb of discretionary quota under various government schemes, has swung into action.

In the latest crackdown, the BDA today scrapped land allotted to four individuals.

“In the first phase, we had cancelled three plots granted under the discretionary quota. Today, we have scrapped four more. We are taking action on a case to case basis,” said Ranjan Das, secretary, BDA.

The BDA has also issued showcause notices to seven others who have availed plots under discretionary quota.

To probe into the alleged irregularities committed under the erstwhile discretionary quota, the state government has formed a task force under Taradatt, additional chief secretary, revenue & disaster management. Between 2002 and 2011, 634 individuals have availed plots and houses from BDA and CDA under the discretionary quota.