Double plots: Union min, BJD biggies land in trouble

BHUBANESWAR: Culture minister Ashok Panda, Choudwar-Cuttack BJD MLA Prabhat Biswal, former minister Bimbadhar Kuanr (BJD) and several other politicians and bureaucrats figure in the list of 302 people, whose family 'illegally' availed multiple plots/flats under different government schemes, additional chief secretary Taradatt-led taskforce said in its report made public on Friday.
Families of minister Bikram Keshari Arukh, Rajya Sabha member Kalpataru Das and BJD MLA Padmanabha Behera also figure in the list of those who availed multiple properties. Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan transferred a house allotted to him under the discretionary quota (DQ) to his father (ex-Union minister Debendra Pradhan) 'illegally', the report said.
Panda's wife Priya Darshini Nanda got a plot under Kalinga Nagar Plotted Development Scheme of Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) in 1996 through DQ. He was allotted another house under Kalinga Vihar Housing Scheme from BDA the same year.
Panda said he did not violate any norm. BDA scheme at Kalinga Vihar said anyone who had applied in another scheme at Samant Vihar but failed to get one could apply. "I followed the due procedure and submitted all documents. There was no pre-condition that one would not apply if his/her spouse was already allotted a house," he said.
Former minister Bimbadhar Kuanr and his wife Khirabdhi Tanaya took two plots under DQ from BDA at Prachi Enclave Phase II and Udayagiri Vihar, respectively in 2003.
Kuanr said it was for BDA to answer why his family was allotted two plots. "The plot allotted to me was caught in litigation after an individual staked claim on it. BDA allotted another in my wife's name. I did not conceal any information," he said.
The report said Biswal was allotted a plot at Cuttack Development Authority's Abhinaba Bidanasi, Sector 6, under DQ, as a native of Kendrapada. His wife, Laxmi Bilashini Biswal, also got a plot under DQ, where she identified herself as a resident of Mahanadi Vihar in Cuttack. "The allottees might have intentionally submitted different addresses to get multiple plots. CDA did not exercise due diligence to eliminate such multiple allotments to the same family," the report said. Pointing out lapses in DQ, the taskforce said an allotment made in favour of Dharmendra was changed to Debendra without following any procedure. "Though order of chairman in favour of Dharmendra is available in the file concerned, no order to cancel the same and re-allot it in favour of Debendra was available. But surprisingly another allotment order was issued against Debendra," the taskforce said. Debendra got a DQ plot under Prachi Enclave Plotted Development Scheme.
Former BJD leader Kusha Apat and his two brothers Bhimsen and Laba were allotted one plot each under DQ by CDA in Sector 13, Abhinaba Bidanasi. "This shows blatant misuse of discretionary power," the report added.