Paradip, Aug. 26: The five-decade long land dispute between the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) and the state government has finally been resolved.

Orissa High Court has disposed of a writ petition pertaining to the dispute and now decks have been cleared for the transfer of land in favour of the port trust.

"The court dismissed the petitions on August 20 and directed the Odisha government and PPT to complete the land transfer process in accordance with the decisions of a high-power committee meeting," said K.Thirumoolar, the senior assistant estate officer of the port trust.

In accordance with the high court ruling, 6,285.58 acres of land would be transferred or alienated without any lease in favour of the PPT, Thirumoolar told The Telegraph.

"The state government will retain the possession of 597.80 acres in four revenue villages within the port limits. This includes 405 acres under the occupation of Paradip Phosphates Limited (PPL). The plot of land in Bhitargarh, which is at present used as an approach road to PPL would be developed as a multi-modal transport corridor (including one for rail) on mutual consent," Thirumoolar said.

The PPT has requested the Jagatsinghpur district administration to alienate the land in its favour.

"Both the port trust and the government have agreed to carry out the order in a joint affidavit. Land alienation process has been set in motion with the receipt of an official letter from the port trust," said Rama Krushna Sahu, the additional district magistrate of Paradip.

The land dispute dates back to the mid-sixties. While the state government had handed over the major port to the Union government in 1965, the formal land transfer could not take place on technical grounds. Claims and counter-claims, both by the port trust and state officials, over the ownership of specific patches of land triggered the standoff.

As both the port trust and local administration were locked in a tug of war over land ownership, the PPT had moved the high court seeking transfer of land in its favour. The court directed the constitution of a high-power committee comprising the chief secretary, Union secretary of ministry of shipping and the chairman of PPT to settle the issue.

The state government had earlier asked for land within the port limits for an airstrip, government offices, institutions, and places of worship, Odisha maritime academy, fisheries department block and the extension of an irrigation canal.

Following amicable settlement, the state government will keep possession of 142.8 acres within the port limits for their use and infrastructure development.

While the housing board will use 40 acres of the land, fisheries department's share is 30.62 acres. Similarly, 23.79 acres of land will be kept for the irrigation department and 8.39 acres for a municipality market and Biju Memorial Hospital. At Nuasandhakuda, 40 acres will be used for an ancillary unit.