'We have received Lokpal's special report from the governor. We will certainly examine it and reply to the governor. The state government's stand on the matter will also be placed in the assembly,' said chief secretary BK Patnaik.
Pushed to a corner over land acquisition for the controversial Vedanta University project in Puri district, Orissa government today said it was "examining" the Lokpal's special report to the governor on the matter.
"We have received Lokpal's special report from the governor. We will certainly examine it and reply to the governor. The state government's stand on the matter will also be placed in the assembly," chief secretary BK Patnaik told reporters.
Patnaik was replying to a question on governor MC Bhandare seeking clarification from the state government for alleged non-compliance of Lokpal's recommendations regarding the proposed Rs15,000 crore university project by Anil Agarwal Foundation, a sister concern of Vedanta Group.
Earlier, the Lokpal had sent a special report to Bhandare drawing his attention to the state government's act of not implementing its recommendations on the varsity project.
Lokpal Justice PK Patra had recommended to the state government to appoint a competent authority to inquire into different acts of omission and commission relating to acquisition of about 6,000 acre of land for the varsity project in Puri district.
The Lokpal had raised serious objections to the manner in which the state government acquired land of Lord Jagannath and other private persons for a company whose status as a public limited company was doubtful.
The Lokpal had also recommended strong action against some senior bureaucrats in the chief minister's office (CMO) who allegedly violated laws to favour the promoters of the varsity project.
Apparently displeased over the state government's action taken report which was submitted with the Lokpal in June, 2010, Justice Patra brought the matter to the notice of the governor by writing a special report last week.
In November 2010, Orissa high court had quashed land acquisition for varsity project after terming it "illegal." The high court also directed the state government to return land to their owners.
The state government had acquired 3495.21 acre of private land and leased out another 509.27 acres of government land to the company for the purpose.
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