The Odisha government has decided to grant freehold status to land and house allottees in the residential projects completed by the Development Authorities (DAs) and Odisha State Housing Board (OSHB), an official said here on Sunday.

The government’s policy decision will yield benefit to more than one lakh allottees. The DAs and OSHB, according to officials, allotted land and houses to more than one lakh households in the residential projects on leasehold basis.

The allottees of these land and houses are required to obtain No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the competent authorities every time they intend to transact such properties.

There are about 99 projects developed over Ac.2797.492 of land in the entire State and in the absence of any law for conversion of such properties to freehold status, the allottees are facing hardship for beneficial enjoyment of such properties. They have been consistently demanding such properties to be granted freehold status.

Even though there are provisions under the law, which allows conversion of leasehold land allotted by the General Administration Department to freehold status on payment of prescribed conversion fees, there was no such provision for conversion of land leased out by DAs and OSHB.

In order to obviate the inconsistencies in the law and to fulfill the aspirations of the allottees, the Government has decided that the land and houses allotted in the residential projects completed by the DAs and OSHB shall be granted freehold status.

The conversion fees amounting to Rs 1107.81 crore shall be waived off in favor of DAs and OSHB. The DAs and OSHB shall collect the prescribed conversion fees from the allottees and allow conversion of leasehold properties to freehold status.

Necessary amendment in the extant laws shall be effected by Revenue and Disaster Management Department to ensure implementation of the above decisions. Freehold land shall be provided to DAs and OSHB for development of all the future residential projects.

Apart from that all the households intending to acquire the properties in the residential projects, to be developed by DAs and OSHB, in future will have the privilege of possessing and transacting such properties in a hassle-free manner without having to obtain permission from any one according to Housing & Urban Development sources.