Govt launches drive to clear illegal occupants from Unit-II quarters
1
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Bhubaneswar: To evict trespassers from govt quarters, the general administration department and
Bhubaneswar Development Authority
(BDA) on Tuesday commenced a massive
anti-encroachment
drive in Unit-II area along the stretch from Master Canteen to Raj Mahal Square.
A joint enforcement team with eviction notices targeted
illegal occupants
, who transformed the govt quarters in Unit-II into unauthorised commercial establishments, including kitchens, hotels, offices, warehouses, and even wedding venues.
The authorities sealed several properties after giving occupants sufficient time to vacate the premises.
The operation marks a significant step in the govt's efforts to reclaim encroached public properties in the state capital.
"We issued notices and provided adequate time for evacuation before proceeding with the sealing of the quarters. Numerous quarters officially listed as vacant were actually occupied illegally, prompting us to take stern action," said Prakash Chandra Behera, rent officer of GA department.
On Tuesday, the GA department while issuing a list of 222 such illegally occupied govt quarters in Unit-II and adjoining areas has also sought cooperation of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Water Corporation of Odisha, TP Central Odisha Distribution Limited in the
eviction drive
that will continue on Wednesday.
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"It is very much essential to evict these persons on threat perception point of view. Proper watch and ward of these govt premises is highly required to avoid any untoward incident," reads the letter issued by joint director, GA department, Manas Ranjan Samal.
Local residents expressed their shock at the bizarre nature of these encroachments. "It is the height of illegality. These occupants knowingly misused govt properties in such a prime location without any fear of consequences," said Mrinal Jena, a Unit-IV resident.
While the squatters have sublet the encroached properties, many of those staying on rent are Bengali-speaking people. Police have launched a probe if there are any Bangladeshi nationals among them.
"We have already initiated a probe to identify the undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants with a specific focus on Bhubaneswar. We will definitely interrogate the evictees of Unit-II today and initiate action if they are found to be illegal immigrants," a senior Odisha Police official told TOI.
Sources within the BDA revealed that the enforcement drive is part of a larger capital region redevelopment plan. Following the evictions, the govt quarters along the stretch are scheduled for demolition.
"Bhubaneswar is rapidly transitioning from horizontal to vertical development. Core areas like Unit-II, which were originally designed following neighbourhood planning and garden city concepts, should now be reimagined for vertical plans to address space constraints," said urban planner Dipu Nanda.
Officials said the enforcement drive represents a crucial step in Bhubaneswar's urban evolution, as the urban planners of the state govt work to optimise space utilisation while maintaining order in govt properties.
The authorities have indicated that this is just the beginning of a comprehensive campaign to address illegal occupancy of govt properties across the city, with more such drives planned in the coming months.
"There are several mega development projects coming up in the city, such as the metro rail, the IT Tower, redevelopment of the city railway station, and more. There is a need for space for all these from the city's core area, and there is a need to create it," a BDA official said.
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