BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) ramped up its efforts to reclaim government land from encroachers by conducting consecutive anti-encroachment drives in the Patia and Kalarahanga regions.
On Monday, during the demolition operation in Patia, officials dismantled a 50-foot boundary wall and various concrete structures, successfully reclaiming 50 decimals of land.
The significance of the Patia drive was underscored by the illegal occupation of the right-of-way for Patia College Road, which had been disrupting daily traffic. Authorities expect commutes to improve as a result.
In Kalarahanga, officials took down two under-construction shops and two water tanks, freeing up an additional 100 decimals of land. However, the operation faced considerable resistance from squatters, causing the team to halt temporarily.
“We arrived without police support. Although we notified the squatters, they protested against the operation, leading us to pause yesterday but resume today,” stated Subharanshu Sekhar Mohanty, BDA liaison officer.
On Tuesday, the team continued in Kalarahanga, demolishing two concrete shops, two incomplete houses, and two plastic sheds, ultimately reclaiming about 200 decimals of land over a six-hour period.
To prevent re-occupation, authorities have put up signboards declaring that the land belongs to the government. “The latest drive proceeded without police intervention and was conducted smoothly,” remarked a BDA official.
This intensified anti-encroachment effort in Bhubaneswar follows revelations in the state assembly that numerous acres of government land, especially in upscale areas, are currently occupied without authorization.
“The encroachment is clearly intentional, with land mafia and illegal occupants targeting government plots for years. Immediate action is essential,” commented Namita Bisra, a resident of Acharya Vihar.
