"The Revenue and Disaster Management Department is directed to put up the Prevention of Land Grabbing Bill with stringent provisions against land grabbers for consideration of the Cabinet within a month," an official release issued by the state government said.
The Chief Minister's move came after the Collector of Khurda district and Tehsildar of Bhubaneswar identified land grabbing and encroachment of about 76 acres of land at the Ghangapatna village on the outskirts of the state capital.
The Chief Minister asked the Crime Branch to submit a report within two months and asserted that action would be taken against those found involved, the release said.
Meanwhile, the government has asked officials to initiate disciplinary action and lodge criminal cases against the sub-registrar concerned, tehsildar, additional tehsildar and revenue inspector(RI), who have already been suspended.
Also Read
Patnaik ordered lodging of FIRs against the persons responsible for illegally constructing a 1.3-km road connecting the encroached land.
The opposition parties and activists had been demanding a CBI probe into the matter and have alleged that many influential persons mostly belonging to the ruling BJD were involved in the scam.
The incident came to light early this month after reports of grabbing of about 100 acres of land by the leaders of the ruling party appeared in the media.