Sambalpur: Private Individuals in Government Quarters; Who’s Profiting from Illegal Rent?
Illegal Occupation of Government Quarters
Sambalpur: A concerning situation has developed in which private individuals are occupying government housing in Sambalpur. These illegal occupants have lived in these quarters for years, and no action has been taken to remove them. This problem is particularly noticeable at the State Livestock Breeding Farm in Chipilima, Sambalpur district.
The Farm’s Housing Situation
The State Livestock Breeding Farm contains approximately 120 government quarters. These structures, built under the supervision of the Joint Director of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, were originally intended to house farm employees such as officers, staff, and workers. However, over time, the farm has fallen into neglect.
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Current Occupancy and Workforce
The farm is currently staffed by only about 15 officers and staff members, as well as 25-30 workers. Meanwhile, many quarters have been occupied by unauthorized occupants. Surprisingly, some retired employees refuse to leave their quarters, while others from other areas have moved in to run various businesses in the surrounding area.
Allegations of Rent Collection
More alarmingly, there are serious allegations that these illegal occupants are being charged monthly rent. Furthermore, some current and retired employees are allegedly renting out their quarters to others. If these allegations are true, it raises an important question: who is pocketing the illegal rent money?
Consequences for Legitimate Staff
As a result of this misuse, some current farm employees are unable to find housing on the property. These employees are required to commute daily from Sambalpur and Bargarh to work at the farm.
Call for Investigation
In light of these issues, there is a growing call from various sources for a thorough investigation. People are calling on authorities to investigate who benefits from this illegal rent collection and why no action has been taken against the unauthorized occupants.
