Bhubaneswar, Nov. 3: The state government has asked people not to buy land in the areas under the jurisdiction of the Puri-Konark Development Authority (PKDA) without obtaining its approval.

“We have asked people to be careful while buying any property in areas under our jurisdictin,” said secretary of the Puri-Konark Development Authority (PKDA) Rama Mohan Mishra.

The PKDA has been getting complaints about dubious dealings in the purchase and sale of property in areas under its jurisdiction. “The numbers of cheating cases in land transaction are on the rise. Whenever we get complaints, the authority immediately swings into action and the land, if under illegal occupation, is vacated immediately. We have been trying to create awareness on this issue,” Mishra said.

The PKDA is the nodal agency looking after development and land-related affairs in Puri and the area under the Konark Notified Area Council (NAC). Its jurisdiction extends over an area of 228sqkm. More than 3 lakh people are dependent upon the PKDA in issues related to land.

Officials of the PKDA said people have to be particularly careful to follow the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of the central government, which prohibits any construction activity, whether commercial or residential, within 500 metres of the high tide line.

“Nearly 1,000 buildings have come up in both Puri and Konark in violation of the CRZ. We have already lodged cases against the violators,” said officials.

However, structures that came up before 1991, when the CRZ notification was not there, have been legalised. “But we have taken action against those hotels and other buildings which have been built after 1991 violating the CRZ notifications. We are also insisting that no new buildings should come up in this zone,” Mishra said.

The PKDA has also advised people to obtain all information about the status of land including whether it is part of any historic site before taking a decision about purchase. “Anyone who wishes to build a house should have the approval of the authority. People must also follow the coastal regulation zone norms,” he said.

With drainage continuing to be a major problem in all the old towns, the PKDA has advised people to look into the drainage issue before buying land or constructing a house either in Puri or Konark. The government has planned to invest more than Rs 700 crore to improve the drainage system of Puri.

Drainage problem in Konark has been equally acute as evident from the recurring inundation of the famous Sun Temple. The PKDA has asked people to keep all these factors in mind before buying property.