Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to bring all immovable properties and land assets belonging to Lord Jagannath — both within the state and outside — under systematic administrative control by introducing a uniform settlement policy.
A high-level meeting chaired by Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan was held on Thursday at the Law Department conference hall to finalise the framework for the settlement and recovery of these properties. The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Odisha Law Commission, senior officials of the Law Department, and other top administrative officers.
According to the Law Minister, the state government has taken a major policy decision to reclaim, regulate, and manage the landed properties of Lord Jagannath. However, individuals who have been residing on these lands for a long period may be granted settlement rights under the proposed policy, subject to eligibility criteria.
The initiative is expected to help generate a substantial corpus fund for the Jagannath Temple administration while resolving long-pending land disputes across the state.
Harichandan said detailed discussions were held on amending the existing uniform settlement policy to facilitate the recovery and effective management of all immovable properties associated with the deity. Official estimates indicate that Lord Jagannath owns nearly 36,000 acres of land, of which approximately 25 to 30 per cent is reportedly under long-term occupation by private individuals.
“The proposal discussed in today’s meeting will be placed before Chief Minister Mohan Charan Mangalabhoi and the state Cabinet for final approval before implementation,” the minister added.
Once implemented, the new policy is expected to streamline land administration, regularise genuine long-term occupations where feasible, and significantly strengthen the financial resources of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration.
