Bhubaneswar, Dec 18 (IANS): The Odisha cabinet Thursday decided to cancel allotment of all houses and plots made under the discretionary quota (DQ) since Jan 1, 1995.

The cabinet also decided to conduct a vigilance inquiry and initiate criminal proceedings against those who produced false affidavit to get plots and houses under discretionary quota meant for martyrs, sportspersons and distinguished personalities.

Chief Secretary G.C. Pati told media that the allotment of plots made by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) and the Odisha State Housing Board (OSHB) under the DQ scheme during the period would be cancelled.

According to sources, a total of 1791 discretionary quota plots have been cancelled by the cabinet.

Housing and Urban Development Minister Pushpendra Singhdeo said a total of 1791 allotments had been made under the discretionary quota since Jan 1, 1995. BDA had allotted 803 plots, CDA 921, and OSHB 67. The 1791 allotments include 54 cases where multiple allotments had been made in favour of people, said the minister.

The cabinet took the decision basing on the inquiry report of the Task Force headed by Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue, Tara Dutt. However, the opposition Congress and the BJP rejected vigilance inquiry and sought for a independent probe into the matter.

"The chief minister took such decision only to show that the government is taking action. Mere cancellation of allotments is not enough. The government must institute criminal cases against those found guilty," said Leader of opposition Narasingh Mishra.

Senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra said if the government wants to come clean, it must order an inquiry by an independent agency. The office of the state accountant general (AG) had urged the government to scrap all irregular allotments made under the quota even if houses have been raised on such land.