Over 12,000 acres allotted for industry between 1981 and 2021 remain unutilised in Odisha: CAG
The report highlighted the unauthorised use of 10 acres of forestland by Bhubaneswar-based Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS).
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) revealed that numerous large plots of land designated for industrial use in Odisha between 1981 and 2021 have remained unutilized or were used for purposes other than those originally intended. The CAG's audit highlighted several instances of land encroachment by educational institutions and private companies.
According to the OGLS Act, 1983 and the RFCTLARR Act, 2013, leased or acquired land must be utilized within three and five years, respectively. The audit found that 12,393.651 acres of land allotted for industries between 1981 and 2021 had not been put to use. Of the 7,102.062 acres of private land acquired for industrial purposes, 99% remained unutilized as of October 2024.
Additionally, 668.893 acres of government land, valued at ₹597.87 crore, were found to be under unauthorized occupation, much of which was occupied by educational institutions. The CAG criticized government agencies for failing to enforce regulations and remove encroachments.
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