Bhubaneswar, Nov.1: Squatters can end up in prison for seven years once an ordinance for prohibition of land grabbing is promulgated.

The state cabinet today approved a proposal promulgation of this ordinance.

Under the new law, land grabbing will be a cognisable offence and made non-bailable. The new law aims to check land grabbing in the urban areas and on the side of the national and state highways. The proposal has been brought in the backdrop of a hue and cry over land grabbing at Ghangapatna on the city outskirts.

The crime branch is conducting an inquiry into the Ghangapatna land scam, where BJD MLA Pranab Balabantaray and state BJP president K.V. Singh Deo’s daughter had brought land.

Briefing the cabinet decision, chief secretary Gokul Chandra Pati said the government felt the need to bring an ordinance as it had come to its notice that there were organised attempts of certain lawless persons operating individually or in groups to grab either by force or by deceit land belonging to the government, local authority, religious and charitable institutions. The then revenue minister, Surjya Narayan Patro, had admitted in the Assembly that around 39,031 acres of government land had been encroached upon. In June, The Telegraph had carried a detailed story on the issue of land grabbing.

A special court will be set up to deal with the land grabbing cases. It can also take up the case suo motu. The special court consisting of four members will be headed either by a retired or serving judge of Orissa High Court. While two members will be from the district judge cadre, the other two will be officials of the revenue department not below the rank of joint secretary. The offences committed under the proposed ordinance shall be made punishable with imprisonment for minimum period of one year and may extend to seven years. The offender is liable to a fine to the maximum of Rs 20,000.

“As the land-grabbing offence shall be treated as cognisable and non-bailable, no person shall be released on bail without hearing public prosecutor. If the land grabber commits the mistake for the second time, the punishment will be one-and-a-half time,” said Pati.

In another development, the state government today brought amendment to the Orissa Apartment Ownership Act, 1982. The amendment aims to ensure efficient management and control of the apartment system for orderly growth and safeguard the apartment owners’ interest. It will also help protect the buyers’ interests and plug the revenue leakages. The government can now hear the complaint of an apartment owner. Officials in the rank of deputy collectors will be authorised to hear the cases.

Separate assessment of the property will be made for the purpose of levying tax on land, municipal rate and taxes. If one wants to sell an apartment, it would be compelling the owner of the property to pay all taxes to the local authority before the transfer of the property. If any apartment owner violates the law, the maximum fine can be enhanced to Rs 1 lakh. It will be made easier to get the occupancy certificate for the apartment owner.