Sambalpur: Controversy has erupted over delays in the state government allotting land to the Indian Institute of Management-Sambalpur.

The state government had announced several times that land would be provided to the reputable business school. But even after three years since the institution came into being, no positive step has been initiated in this direction.

The government, in its message to the institution, clarified that as per of the rule, the revenue department was prepared to allot land on a long-term lease of 99 years.

"The institute had applied for more than 200 acres, but the revenue department has earmarked 180 acres at Basantapur mouza on the other side of the Mahanadi river. Even the total land is not free from dispute," said IIM-Sambalpur director Mahadeo Jaiswal.

"The Union human resources development ministry is not ready to accept the Odisha government's decision to allot land on lease and wants complete transfer in favour of the institute," he said.

"The land has not yet been allotted nor we have taken possession of it. But the revenue department has started sending bills for payment of land revenue," he said.

The other contemporary IIMs such as the ones in Vishakhapatnam and Nagpur have already taken up large-scale construction on the allotted lands in those states, Jaiswal said.

When contacted, additional district magistrate Ajoy Jena said it was the state government's policy to allot land on a 99-year lease to educational institutions and other organisations. "Long-term lease of 99 years means it is permanent. Who can ask the educational institute to vacate it after that period? They must understand the policy," Jena said.

Sambalpur MLA Raseswari Panigrahi said she had taken up the matter at the chief minister level and assured that it would be sorted out shortly.

Whatever may be the result, however, the institute continues to lag behind when other similar institutes have moved on with constructing their own campuses.