Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 22: One after another, the open spaces in residential colonies in the capital city are disappearing owing to unscrupulous builders fudging the colony maps, while the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) turns the other way from encroachments or regularises the norms as a remedy instead of acting promptly against the violators.
Lakshmi Vihar residents have been running from pillar to post for three years to have their colony road freed of encroachments which also causes water-logging throughout the year. The residents are forced to walk home through the narrow road with stagnated drain water turning breeding ground for vector-borne diseases.
“Three years ago, plot Nos 42, 46, 622 and 45 were open spaces and there used to be an 11-ft roads between plot 46 and 42 and also between 45 and 46. The roads were demarcated in the state map of the colony. However, the original owners sold their lands with the help of builders to several others who have built walls way beyond the demarcated one, encroaching upon the road,” said N K Sarangi, executive member of the Lakshmi Vihar Vikas Parshid.
The encroachments have choked the rainwater drains of the colony, a resident said.
Dilip Sabat, another resident, said, “The stink emanating from the drains is unbearable.”
Corporator Sanjay Sethi and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Deputy Commissioner Sumita Behera have already visited the colony, but nothing has changed, Sabat added.
Sarangi further said the residents’ committee approached the revenue officer for demarcation of the plots. “But, nobody turned up to the colony and the encroachment stays,” he said.
Speaking to Orissa Post, Madhumita Rath, a senior BDA official, said, “There are 15000 cases of landgrab pending with the BDA. We can’t jump on to one case. There is a mechanism which should be followed. The BDA court will take a call on the issue after hearing the case since private plot owners are involved in the case.”
When asked if demolition can be taken up, she said, “The demolition will be taken up only in cases where the government land has been encroached. Our encroachment squad will look into the issue.”
A couple of weeks ago, the Indira Gandhi Cooperative Society in Lingipur had approached the BDA alleging the open space in their township is being sold by builders. The BDA has not intervened in the matter so far, beyond issuing a show-cause notice to the Orissa Cooperative Housing Corporation (OCHC).
