representative image Bhubaneswar, buyer of a land scheme launched by Odisha State Housing Board ,OSHB) has filed a complaint with the Chief Minister’s Office regarding the delay in getting possession of the plots purchased by him. -Jagannath Prasad Mouza On the outskirts of the city.
OSHB had advertised the scheme in May 2022 and named it ‘Vasudev Vihar’ located near Kalinga Studio. It has 166 plots. The buyers, mostly retired employees, alleged that though OSHB took the entire money, it did not hand over the developed housing plots to them.
“In May 2022, applicants deposited the full amount with complete documents Odisha State Housing Board. In July 2022, a lottery was conducted and 166 eligible beneficiaries were selected and allotted plots to them,” the complaint letter read.
It said that six months after the lottery, OSHB issued a written notice in January 2023 and a few months later, agreements were signed for the speedy transfer of the plots. “We met Housing Board officials several times in 2023 and 2024 regarding the lack of progress in plot development, but no positive outcome emerged,” the buyers alleged.
As per the development plan, OSHB was to construct boundary walls, provide external electrification, water supply, open areas, external water supply, internal roads and drains and a 100-foot wide entry road.
Buyers said officials had repeatedly promised that the plots would be handed over to beneficiaries within 18 months of allotment; However, the Board has not fulfilled this commitment.
Bapuni Mahapatra, a buyer, said that in June this year he informed the board that even though 18 months have passed, the work is not even half done, while the contractor has completely stopped the work.
“We requested a written commitment as to when the plots would be handed over, but were verbally informed that the contractor would soon resume development work and the plots would be handed over accordingly,” Mohapatra said.
OSHB managing director Gangadhar Nayak said registration with buyers is already over and some infrastructure work is underway at the site. “After the development of the plots, it will be handed over to the buyers,” Nayak said.
Pravakar Sethi, a buyer, said the contractor has not started the plot development work. “We are living in uncertainty and mental stress and we had submitted a request to the secretary in August seeking a detailed investigation into the negligence and a written commitment on when our plots will be developed,” Sethi said.
