Baripada: Special planning authority is crucial for land conversion, approval of houses and management of town planning in urban areas, but this wing in Baripada is lying paralyzed as the post of its head has been vacant. As a result, important files that need to be cleared keep on piling at the office.
According to reports, Baripada is said to be the oldest town in the state and it is viewed as boom town. The town is fast expanding with big and small business establishments coming up.
The Special Town Planning Office, located at Murgabadi Golei, usually grants approval for land conversion and plans for buildings.
Locals allege that they have to face a lot of difficulties in getting their works done at the office as the post of the special planning officer is lying vacant.
Bijay Kumar Bhuyan was the special planning officer, but he retired June 30, 2019. Since then, the government has not filled the vacancy, prompting the local residents accuse the government of neglecting this office.
Reports said, over 500 applications related to land conversion have been pending in the office. Besides, 50 files pertaining to building plans are yet to be disposed of.
Every day, scores of people come to the office, but have to return home frustrated.
Even people are coming from places as far as Rairangpur, Udala and Karanjia. This office is also authorized to grant approvals to building plans and land conversion of those three civic body areas.
The staff working at the special planning office alleged that they face problem to get salaries as the special planning officer has not been appointed.
Bikash Behera, a local resident, lamented, “I have applied for conversion of a farmland to homestead land. I have been frequenting the office for a long time, but to no avail.”
As the approval of the land conversion is pending at the office, he has been unable to build his house, he added.
Rakesh Nayak, another resident, said that his building plan map has got stuck in the office.
Locals were upset over the state of affairs at the office. Some residents and social activists had taken up the issue with Minister of Housing and Urban Development when the latter was in the town to unfurl the national flag August 15.
They urged the collector to take steps for filling up the vacancy.