By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Ministry of Tribal Affairs led by Union Minister Jual Oram on 21.6.2024, wrote a letter to the state government and instructed to stop the process of handing over 10 acres of forest land to the KISS organization, run by former BJD MP Dr Achyuta Samanta.
Sources said, Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram has directed Odisha Chief Secretary and Khurda Collector to keep the process of diversion of forest land in favour of Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS) in Bhubaneswar put on hold.
In fact, on 21.2.24, the Central Environment and Forest Ministry wrote a letter to the state government and instructed to implement some conditions before handing over the forest land to which organization. But the forest department of the state government started the process of handing over forest land to KISS instead of doing this. So the Central minister has put a ban on this.
Here it is to inform, Achyuta Samanta has illegally plundered many lands in Bhubaneswar. Similarly they have started the process of forcibly grabbing land in different districts.
“It is understood that you have initiated the process to hand over the revenue forest land to KISS. You are advised to keep the process in abeyance till the required clarification is received in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and formal clearance is issued in the matter,” said the letter received by the Chief Secretary office on June 21. It added that complaints have been received about proper compliance with the Forest Rights Act (FRA) while processing the proposal.
