30 buildings pulled down for road

November 26, 2013

TNN |

CUTTACK: The district administration on Monday pulled down unauthorized constructions on government land near Petanal in Bidanasi here amid tight security. Over 30 illegal structures, including houses and shops, were demolished. The eviction was done to make way for construction of a road in the area.

Tension prevailed when the demolition squad reached the area in the morning. Locals staged protest, alleging that the eviction drive was illegal. “The authorities had not served us any notice to vacate the land before carrying out the eviction. We have been staying in the area for the past so many decades and suddenly they came and evicted us. It is unfair,” said Sabitri, a resident of the area. To avoid any untoward incident, the district administration deployed eight platoons of police at the spot.

The authorities refuted the allegations. “In June last year, we had carried out eviction in the area but the evictees re-encroached on the lands. Due to fresh constructions, we were not able to move ahead with the road project,” said a government officer.

He said the drive was undertaken according to direction of the Orissa high court. During the first-phase eviction drive, seven persons were injured in a clash between slum dwellers and policemen.

Source-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com