Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government has formulated a suitable policy for regularizing the land in favour of the educational institutions.
Minister Revenue and Disaster Management Sudam Marndi briefed Media after State Cabinet approved the Policy.
Thanks to overdrive of Principal Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management, Bishnupada Sethi, the policy taken shape and has been formulated to regularize land issues of these educational institutions in the State. .
The State Government has decided that all land, irrespective of extent of area, under occupation of standalone Government Degree Colleges, including autonomous and non- autonomous Government Colleges and standalone Government Higher Secondary Schools — erstwhile + 2/ Junior Colleges — will be recorded in the name of Higher Education Department and School & Mass Education Department respectively with ‘marfat’ of the concerned Degree Colleges/ Higher Secondary School.
As many as 51 Government colleges and 644 Aided Colleges have under their occupation Government land measuring Ac.180.00 and Ac.1713.00 respectively. Similarly, 1274 High Schools are on Government land. The total value of which will be more than Rs. 4000 cr.
Due to inability of such institutions to pay the dues like premium, incidental charges, annual ground rent, cess, encroachment fees with penalty, interest, the land is not recorded in the name of institutions.
In case of composite colleges, where a degree college co- exists with a higher secondary school, the land, irrespective of extent of area, shall be recorded separately– in the name of Higher Education Department (Marfat of the Degree College) for the area under occupation of the Degree College wing and in the name of School & Mass Education Department (Marfat of the Higher Secondary Schools) for the area under occupation of the Higher Secondary School wing.
However, where such splitting of land is not possible due to practical problems and inconveniences, the entire land shall be recorded in the name of the Higher Education Department (Marfat of the Degree College).
In case of Aided Degree Colleges having autonomous status and non-autonomous Aided Degree colleges and Aided Higher Secondary Schools, land up to the extent of area specified (i.e. 10 acres in urban areas and 15 acres in rural areas) shall be recorded in the name of Higher Education Department and School & Mass Education Department respectively with marfat of the concerned educational institution.
Wherever a Degree college co- exists with a Higher Secondary School, the land should be settled separately in the name of the Higher Education Department and School & Mass Education Department respectively with marfat of the concerned educational institution.
However, where such splitting of land is not possible due to the practical problems and inconveniences, the land shall be recorded in the name of the Higher Education Department.
All land, irrespective of extent of area, under occupation of Government High Schools will be recorded in the name of the School & Mass Education Department with ‘marfat’ of the concerned School.
The land under occupation of Aided High Schools up to the extent provided i.e. for lands up to three acres and five acres for Secondary schools in urban areas and rural areas respectively, will be recorded in the name of the School & Mass Education Department with marfat of the concerned Aided High School.
The land to be settled with the educational institutions should be leasable, non-forest, not in DLC list, un- objectionable category, free from encroachment by anyone other than the said educational institutions, free from any encumbrances and should not be having any mineral reserve.
Land shall be settled with the concerned Department with marfat of the concerned educational institution free of all charges.
The cut- off date for consideration of occupation of government land by an institution shall be January 1, 2020.
Notably, the State Government in 1977 had taken a policy decision to provide Government land measuring up to ten acres in urban areas and up to 15 acres in rural areas, free of premium for establishment of colleges.
Similarly, it was also decided that lands will be provided free of premium for M.E. Schools up to two acres and three acres and for Secondary schools up to three acres and five acres in urban areas and rural areas respectively.