Bhubaneswar, Mar 17: Upon discussion on the expenditure budget, Revenue Minister Bijayshree Routray yesterday informed that the Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill will be presented again in the assembly. As per the bill, land grabbing will become a “cognizable” offence. The bill was previously introduced in the house in 2015 and it had been sent for the assent of the President but the latter returned it mentioning that the bill had some errors. Thereby, the Revenue minster informed that after proper review, the bill will be presented again. Elaborating on it, the minister stated that on one side, action was to be taken against the government land grabbers and on the other hand, poor people were to be excused among the land grabbers. But as the President did not accept these two quotas stating that they did not match each other, the bill was sent back. Therefore, a thorough review will be conducted along with discussions with the Odisha Assembly authorities and with the State Government and if any serious amendments are to be made, the department will do the needful and will bring it to the assembly again or if it can be changed by any executive order, then that will be undertaken. Notably, Leader of Opposition had made the government responsible over the above stated issue in the house during the expenditure budget proceedings of Revenue department.
