Paralakhemundi, 12th Aug 2025: The process of selling villages built on privately owned land has started one after another for some time now. Recently, the village of Daktarbanjiri in Gosani block of Gajapati district, which was built on private land, was sold. While disputes arose over this, political tensions have now begun. Both BJP and BJD are blaming each other. The villagers are upset about leaving their ancestral land.
Currently, the buying and selling process is under legal consideration in the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s court. Meanwhile, the process to sell land in another village, Satamail, in the same block has also started. According to Gajapati Sub-Divisional Magistrate Anup Panda, the land sale case is pending in his court. One hearing has taken place; the full hearing is yet to happen. Both parties have submitted their respective petitions.
According to reports, Satamail village has been built on 43 acres of land in Kuduada Mouza, Bagshala Panchayat, Gosani block, under account number 71. The land has about 86 residential plots, farmland, National Highway No. 326, eastern division roads, shops, and temples.
About one and a half months ago, police-supervised identification was done, which sparked tension between farmers cultivating the land and residents living there. Since this is private land, cultivation and house construction or repair without permission is illegal, says the revenue department. Surprisingly, some farmland and houses had been sold before.
For centuries, three generations of farmers have cultivated this land and paid revenue regularly. However, no revenue has been collected recently. One individual claims to hold the Power of Attorney over the account and is attempting to illegally relinquish all farmland, houses, and properties under this account. The affected residents complain they might have to leave their homes and farms abruptly.
They are demanding that the land and houses at Satamail be registered in their names. Suddenly, land mafias have become active regarding buying and selling these lands. Large patches of land are being sold using new methods, causing concern. This is not only affecting farming but also raising fears about law and order.
Residents who have been cultivating and residing on their holdings question why landowners remained silent while they farmed the land and why revenue was not collected from their properties. It is reported that the land is registered in the names of three people from Paralakhemundi town, but detailed information about ownership and who holds the Power of Attorney to relinquish the land has not been disclosed.
Since many families from the town have settled and farmed on this account’s land, their future is now uncertain and filled with apprehension.
