BMC stops demolition drive in city slum

BHUBANESWAR: The residents of Dhirikuti slum near Sainik school area in the city on Saturday protested the demolition drive carried out by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) for the purpose of setting up of a dumping yard in the slum. The slum dwellers demanded proper rehabilitation before demolishing their houses.

When the enforcement team of BDA and BMC reached the Dhirikuti slum to demolish the houses, the slum dwellers protested the enforcement team and sat in front of the slum. Following the protest, the enforcement team returned from the slum and demolished from houses nearby Sainik school boundary. After mike announcement for demolition of some houses near Sainik School, the face-off between the enforcement team and slum peoples started which compelled the team to come back.    

BMC Mayor Anant Narayan Jena said they have all the survey data with them and the process of rehabilitation for the displaced slum people is on. But, some people have started building houses overnight to include their names in the rehabilitation list which will be evacuated immediately, while the real beneficiaries will be rehabilitated soon and the demolition drive would start after this rainy season, he added.

It may be noted that the BMC planned to set up a dumping yard in 25 acres of land in the area. The construction of its wall has been started.