Sambalpur: Samaleswari Priests Receive Land Pattas After Two-Year Delay, Errors in Documents Lead to Protests
Land Pattas Issued After Two Years
Sambalpur: After two years of waiting, 29 priests from the ‘Samalei’ scheme have finally received their land pattas. However, several priests have expressed concern about errors in the documents, such as incorrect names and missing information. The lack of attached land maps has also caused dissatisfaction among the priests.
State Government’s Initiative for Temple Development
The ‘Samalei’ scheme was implemented by the state government as part of its plan to develop and beautify Maa Samaleswari Temple. Priests who lived on temple grounds were relocated to Srikrishna Goshala as part of this scheme. Each family was promised Rs. 20 lakhs and 2.5 decimals of land to construct their homes. In 2023, the priests left their original homes and moved into rented accommodations, confident that they would receive their land pattas soon.
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Delay and Priest Dissatisfaction
Despite the promises, the land pattas were not issued for over a year, leaving the priests increasingly frustrated. The delay in delivering pattas sparked intense resentment among the priest community. They approached Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari with their complaints, and the Sambalpur Tehsildar finally handed over the pattas within the last two days.
Errors in Pattas and Demands for Correction
However, not all priests have received their pattas, and those that have are dissatisfied due to a number of errors. Chief Priest Ambika Prasad Ray expressed frustration, pointing out incorrect names and other errors. He also requested that the documents be amended and land maps be provided in conjunction with the pattas to fully resolve the issue.
