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Major Land Issues Affecting Educational Institutions in Odisha: What You Need to Know

In Odisha, over 4,200 educational institutions are struggling due to their location on forest-classified land, hindering access to government support. A recent meeting led by R&D Minister Suresh Pujari revealed that while many institutions have had their land records corrected, significant work remains. The government aims to resolve these issues by reclassifying land and addressing irregularities related to Bhoodan land. This article delves into the implications of these challenges and the steps being taken to protect educational institutions and land belonging to Lord Jagannath.
By Ambika Singh Sep 8, 2026, 10:39 IST

Land Challenges for Educational Institutions in Odisha


By Rabinarayan Jena


Bhubaneswar: In Odisha, 4,203 educational institutions are situated on land classified as forest, which complicates their access to government support and resources, as reported by the Revenue and Disaster Management (R&D) department on Monday.


This concern was raised during a high-level review meeting led by R&D Minister Suresh Pujari at Lok Seva Bhawan. Officials revealed that out of 52,056 educational institutions in the state, including degree colleges, high schools, and primary schools, land records have been rectified for 27,556 of them.


The government has set a deadline of December 31, 2026, for issuing complete land records for all educational institutions on lease-eligible land. Among those still pending, there are 3,921 primary schools, 255 high schools, and 27 colleges located on forest-classified land.


Minister Pujari instructed officials to take immediate action to reclassify the land from forest to non-forest status. He also noted irregularities concerning extensive Bhoodan land in the state. To address this, the department will digitize old records of Bhoodan land and integrate them with the Bhulekh land-record system. Until this digitization is finalized, illegal transfers and mutations of Bhoodan land will be restricted.


A comprehensive investigation into alleged fraud related to Bhoodan land will be initiated, and illegal encroachers will be removed, Pujari stated. He emphasized that the original goals of Acharya Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan movement would be prioritized, ensuring that Bhoodan land is allocated only to those truly landless. The minister also highlighted the importance of safeguarding land belonging to Lord Jagannath.


Currently, land records for 31,906.52 acres belonging to Lord Jagannath have been prepared across 17 districts, with 20,507.36 acres located in Khordha district. Following High Court directives, stringent actions are being implemented to clear encroachments from SJTA land, especially along national and state highways, and to expedite the resolution of revenue disputes.


The meeting also addressed strategies to protect and recover Lord Jagannath’s land in various districts of Odisha and beyond. It was agreed to identify other states in phases, gather detailed information on the temple’s land holdings, recover these properties, and ensure their complete registration in favor of Lord Jagannath Mahaprabhu, Puri, through the SJTA.


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