By Janaki Ballav Dash

Baripada: Landed properties spanning 2,907.52 acres belonging to Shri Raghunathjew Matha in Baripada, Mayurbhanj district, are allegedly facing widespread encroachment, illegal transfers, and questionable changes in land records, raising concerns over the loss of revenue meant for the deity’s rituals and maintenance.

Historical records cited by members of the royal tutor’s family show that the properties were declared absolute through three miscellaneous cases in 1965, following the merger of the erstwhile Mayurbhanj princely state. The records reportedly contain details of the land parcels, including their villages, khata and plot numbers.

Hemanta Kumar Dash of the Rajguru family alleged that several properties had been transferred or occupied illegally over the years, with some land records changed through dubious means. He said consolidation officer Saran Kumar Jena had revoked land record changes involving around 300 acres in 1999, restoring the records in the deity’s name.

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The alleged loss of control over the properties has also affected the traditional system of collecting agricultural revenue. An office building belonging to the Debottar department at Thanachhak in Betnoti has reportedly remained abandoned since 2020, with no staff visiting to oversee the properties or collect crop revenue.

Shanti Behera, daughter of the watchman living in the dilapidated building, said the office had remained neglected since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Concerned resident Sudhir Misra said the Debottar department, its executive officer-cum-Sub-Collector in Baripada and the tehsil administrations of Baripada and Betnoti should take steps to protect the properties. He called for appointing a full-time manager to oversee the land and ensure regular collection of agricultural revenue.

The land records list properties across several locations, including Betnoti, Tarasole, Kadamsole, Tulsichaura, Sukhilahar, Mahulia, Ambjoda and Baripada. The largest parcel, measuring 1,679.26 acres, is recorded in Sukhilahar and Mahulia.

The alleged neglect has raised questions about the supervision of valuable religious endowment properties and the protection of income traditionally used to maintain the deity’s rituals and associated institutions.