Bhubaneswar: A CAG audit has flagged widespread irregularities in land management and land-use monitoring in Odisha, revealing large-scale non-utilisation of land acquired for industries and projects, unauthorised occupation of govt land, illegal diversion of agricultural and forest land, and weak enforcement by revenue authorities. The report says the absence of effective monitoring allowed thousands of acres to remain unutilised or be used for purposes other than those originally approved.The audit of the Revenue and Disaster Management department found that 12,393.651 acres of land allotted between 1981 and 2021 for industries and allied activities had not been utilised for the intended purpose. Another 252.692 acres of allotted land were being used for activities different from those for which they were sanctioned. Despite statutory provisions requiring unutilised land to be resumed, authorities failed to enforce compliance, the report tabled in Odisha assembly on Monday noted.The CAG also pointed to the absence of village-wise land banks mandated under the Odisha Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Rules, 2016. As a result, 668.893 acres of govt land valued at ₹597.87 crore remained under unauthorised occupation across sampled districts. Encroachments included commercial establishments, industries, educational institutions and other private uses on land classified as gochar (grazing land), forest and communal land.Another major finding relates to the diversion of agricultural land. In 24 sampled tehsils, 504.768 acres of farmland were found being used for non-agricultural purposes, including educational institutions, industries, hotels, religious establishments, residential projects and commercial ventures, without following prescribed procedures. The audit also found cases where agricultural land was converted into homestead plots despite lack of legal approach roads.Forest and environmentally sensitive areas were also found to be under pressure. According to the report, 568.876 acres of forest land in six sampled tehsils were being used for non-forest activities without prior approval from the Centre. Another 13.65 acres within a wildlife sanctuary area were subdivided into 156 plots and sold in violation of wildlife protection norms. In Khurda and Puri districts, 41.65 acres falling within eco-sensitive zones were being used for activities prohibited under ESZ notifications.The audit highlighted several cases in Bhubaneswar where land use violated the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP). In environmentally sensitive zones, land was found being used for residential colonies, hotels, commercial establishments, educational institutions and brick manufacturing units. Altogether, 31.124 acres in Bhubaneswar and Puri were found being utilised in violation of land-use norms prescribed under approved development plans.In Bhubaneswar’s environmentally sensitive and special heritage zones, the audit detected unauthorised residential projects, commercial establishments, educational institutions and hospitality ventures in villages such as Bankuala, Dadha, Raghunathpur, Pandara and Sisupal. The CAG said such violations defeated the objective of planned urban development envisaged under the CDP.The report also drew attention to Sipasarubali in Puri district. It found that 97.18 acres of DLC forest land, areas identified by govt-appointed District Level Committees as forest, recorded in the names of private individuals, were being used for residential buildings, apartments, hotels, spas, commercial structures and religious facilities. The audit further noted that 7.24 acres of DLC forest land had been converted without Central approval and that large-scale construction activity was underway in the area, including permanent structures and commercial establishments.The CAG concluded that no effective monitoring mechanism was in place to track utilisation of allotted land, resume unutilised land or detect illegal changes in land use. Monthly or quarterly progress reporting systems were absent, while field-level inspections and enforcement remained weak, allowing widespread violations to continue unchecked.