Illegal structures demolished in Bhubaneswar city

--Demolition drive stopped till Assembly session ends

BHUBANESWAR: Continuing its demolition drive, the joint teams of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the General Administration (GA) on Tuesday demolished several illegal structures and cleared more than 200 metres of encroachment on the roadside starting from Jaydev Vihar to Ekamra Kanan in the city. 

According to sources in the BDA, illegal structures including 27 slum houses and a church were demolished for widening of the road. Slum people along with some churchgoers protested the move and staged dharna on the site to stop demolition drive. 

To control any untoward situation during demolition, three platoons of police forces were deployed at the spot. Zonal ACP and staff of the Nayapalli police station were present during the demolition.

Sources said the demolition drive was stopped from Tuesday evening ahead of the Assembly session as it would begin from Thursday. “After end of the session on July 28, the demolition drive will be resumed,” said an enforcement officer.