Satellite survey catches massive irregularities in paddy field registration in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Satellite surveys have exposed significant irregularities in the registration of paddy fields in two districts of Odisha, namely Bargarh and Keonjhar.

In an effort to enhance transparency in the paddy procurement process, the state government had previously requested detailed information about paddy fields and made it obligatory for farmers to register their names before selling their crops.

Upon verification, a staggering total of 5,364 fraudulent farmers were identified. Subsequently, the Agricultural Department conducted satellite surveys of the fields registered as agricultural, revealing a shocking level of fraud in the registration process.

The satellite survey uncovered instances where certain lands were falsely labeled as agricultural, despite no actual farming taking place on them. Some individuals had even misrepresented residential properties with buildings as agricultural land. Perhaps most astonishingly, some had registered land located near railway lines as agricultural fields. These discrepancies were particularly pronounced in Bargarh district, with Keonjhar following closely behind.

Reports indicate that Bargarh district has a total of 87,615 falsely registered agricultural lands, while in Keonjhar district, paddy has not been cultivated on 81,357 of the registered lands.

Following the discovery of these extensive irregularities through the satellite survey, concerned officials have initiated on-site verifications.

In the current year, 60,941 farmers registered their names to sell paddy in Keonjhar district, a decrease from the previous year’s 64,202 registrations. Subsequently, it was found that 81,357 of the registered plots had not been cultivated. In response to this revelation, the Central Cooperative Society has formed 183 teams to conduct on-site inspections.

Preliminary inspections indicate that out of the 6,761 registered lands, only 1,975 have been used for paddy cultivation, while the remaining 4,786 lands are fictitious, including roads, ponds, embankments, and railway lines.