Bhubaneswar: The enforcement wing of Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), with police support, on Thursday carried out a major eviction drive at Shampur under Bharatpur police limits and reclaimed nearly two acres of govt land from illegal occupation.Officials said the action forms part of the authority’s ongoing campaign to free govt land from encroachments and ensure availability of space for planned urban development and public infrastructure.On the first day of the drive, enforcement teams demolished 38 asbestos houses, four concrete houses that were under construction, 15 bathrooms, one under-construction iron shed and nearly 100 feet of boundary wall allegedly raised illegally on govt land. Heavy machinery was used to clear the encroachments. Police personnel were deployed at the spot to maintain law and order and facilitate smooth execution of the demolition.BDA officials said the eviction was carried out after completing due legal procedures. Notices had been served on encroachers in advance, and repeated announcements were made through loudspeakers asking them to vacate the land voluntarily. The occupants were also given adequate time to remove their belongings before the demolition began, the authority said.BDA vice-chairman Chanchal Rana said the authority would continue its anti-encroachment drive until unauthorised occupation of govt land is removed. He appealed to encroachers to cooperate with the administration and vacate voluntarily, adding that reclaimed land is essential for Bhubaneswar’s planned growth and upcoming development projects.
