Bhubaneswar: The law department is working on reforming the uniform land policy to start settlement of land ownership disputes related to the Puri Jagannath temple within next one-and-a-half months.Law minister Prithviraj Harichandan made this announcement during a review meeting of amendments to the Srimandir Land Settlement Policy held on Tuesday.Almost 55,000 acres of land belonging to Lord Jagannath both within Odisha and outside are encroached, resulting in huge revenue loss for Srimandir. At several places, poor and landless servitors occupy these plots for years but have been unable to establish their legal rights.The law minister informed that to draw up a list of these plots, some amendments are being made to the Uniform Policy of 2003 to evict encroachers. In cases where such removal is not possible and sevayats been occupying the lands for long periods (generations), the plan is to settle the land in their favour through a Uniform Land Settlement Policy. “This will help both the land occupants and also increase revenue of the Srimandir,” Harichandan said. He added that the proposals were discussed to make these valuable landed properties of Lord Jagannath free from encroachment and allot them at the highest possible value.Moreover, the meeting also discussed the need for amending the Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955. Harichandan said since the Act is almost 70 years old, there is a need to change or amend certain provisions and sections to make it relevant to today’s times. The Law Commission suggested certain changes, and a final call would be taken on them soon, the minister said.
