RABINARAYAN JENA, OP
Bhubaneswar: Illegal construction and commercial use of residential buildings in the City here have come under the scanner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), which has issued notices in 7,756 cases and initiated action to seal or demolish 877 buildings. This was revealed in an affidavit filed by the BMC in the Supreme Court. While residents affected by the action are facing difficulties, some unscrupulous employees and middlemen are taking advantage of the situation.
In the affidavit filed by BMC Commissioner Chanchal Rana, the BMC outlined details of illegal constructions and commercial establishments operating from residential premises. The civic body has sought six months’ time from the apex court to complete the process. The civic body informed the SC that it has so far initiated proceedings and issued notices in 7,756 cases.
Of these, the Odisha Development Authority (ODA) court has disposed of 2,497 cases, while illegal construction has been confirmed in 877 cases. The process of demolishing the structures or sealing the establishments has been initiated. The BMC attributed the delay in disposing of the cases to repeated adjournment petitions. Rana said steps are being taken regarding the issuance of trade licences for commercial use of buildings and assessment of holding tax. Through public notices, residents have been asked to cooperate and upload building plans and other relevant documents.
The system has been put in place to facilitate effective verification by the authorities concerned and licence holders or other stakeholders, ensure easy access to records and improve coordination among them, the affidavit said. Social worker Bimalendu Pradhan, however, said several shortcomings are evident in BMC’s affidavit filed before the SC. He referred to the recent collapse of a five-story building in Satya Niketan area of New Delhi, in which seven students were killed. “If the BMC does not take concrete steps, no one can say when or how a serious situation may arise,” he said.
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