BNN: Bhubaneswar: Saturday, 20 Jan 2024.
On January 18, activists
advocating for the Right to Information (RTI) staged a demonstration at the
office of the Executive Engineer of Roads and Building Division-2 in
Bhubaneswar. The protest was in response to the perceived lack of transparency
concerning the use of government funds for the renovation of the official
accommodations of Jaipur MLA Pranab Prakash Das and the organisational
secretary of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
Seeking Transparency in Expenditure
The activists, led by Prakash Chandra Das, harbour doubts over undisclosed information pertaining to the expenditure on the renovations. Their suspicion is that the renovations could involve a significant amount of funds, potentially transforming the government quarters into a luxury establishment akin to a star hotel.
Despite having filed both a first and second appeal, Mr. Das and the fellow activists have yet to receive the requested information. This situation has fueled their speculation about deliberate obfuscation of potential government mismanagement in property renovations.
Questioning Government Transparency
Furthering their concerns, the activists are challenging the transparency of the Odisha government, headed by Naveen Patnaik, in the allotment of valuable government land to political parties, such as the BJD and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in Bhubaneswar. The activists, operating under the Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhiyan (OSAA), are demanding the issuance of a white paper on the allotment of government properties to private entities, along with the guidelines followed in these decision-making processes.
Allegations over Land Allotment
They argue that the land, secured by demolishing government quarters, was handed over to the political parties covertly, bypassing the standard auction procedure designed to enhance government property value. The activists suspect this secretive method of allocation could be an attempt to conceal potential mismanagement or corruption.
Seeking Transparency in Expenditure
The activists, led by Prakash Chandra Das, harbour doubts over undisclosed information pertaining to the expenditure on the renovations. Their suspicion is that the renovations could involve a significant amount of funds, potentially transforming the government quarters into a luxury establishment akin to a star hotel.
Despite having filed both a first and second appeal, Mr. Das and the fellow activists have yet to receive the requested information. This situation has fueled their speculation about deliberate obfuscation of potential government mismanagement in property renovations.
Questioning Government Transparency
Furthering their concerns, the activists are challenging the transparency of the Odisha government, headed by Naveen Patnaik, in the allotment of valuable government land to political parties, such as the BJD and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in Bhubaneswar. The activists, operating under the Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhiyan (OSAA), are demanding the issuance of a white paper on the allotment of government properties to private entities, along with the guidelines followed in these decision-making processes.
Allegations over Land Allotment
They argue that the land, secured by demolishing government quarters, was handed over to the political parties covertly, bypassing the standard auction procedure designed to enhance government property value. The activists suspect this secretive method of allocation could be an attempt to conceal potential mismanagement or corruption.
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