By Vishwas dass
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 17: The encroachment of government land by some Orissa State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (OMFED) and Orissa State Poultry Products’ Cooperative Marketing Federation Limited (OPOLFED) booth owners has come into focus again with some eatery workers beating up a Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) employee during an eviction drive.
Workers of Green Chilly booth — an eatery selling junk food items — at Master Canteen Friday manhandled BDA’s driver and tried to thrash its enforcement officer Deba Prasad Dash when the latter tried to raze a portion of their illegal structure.
A few OPOLFED and OMFED operators have usurped government land as they are backed by political outfits, preventing government functionaries from razing their unauthorised structures, alleged sources BDA and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). Authorities concerned have yet to initiate action against the booths.
Many senior officials said that it is a mockery of Chief Secretary Gokal Chandra Pati’s directive to pull down illegal structures on government land, drains and roads.
However, no BDA, BMC or general administration department (GAD) official is ready to officially speak on the issue.
Sources alleged that OPOLFED booths, which are authorised to sell only poultry products at less than market rates to people, in reality only sell junk food.
The sources also alleged that while GAD allots 120 sq mt to OPOLFED to run their businesses, operators are also gobbling up government land to expand their businesses.
Many OMFED booths, which have been allotted 100 sq ft land by GAD, have also extended their structures.
Many of the OPOLFED and OMFED booths can be seen encroaching upon land at Master Canteen, Jaydev Vihar, Sriya Square, Rupali Square, NALCO Square, Chandrashekharpur, Acharya Vihar and Rajmahal Square and many other places.
Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said stringent action would be taken against those encroaching upon government land and causing harm to BMC employees and officials during eviction drives.
However, despite repeated attempts, BDA spokesperson Madhumita Rath and OPOLFED general manager Prasanna Biswal were not available for their comments.
“It is the prerogative of BMC and GAD and not OMFED to prevent booth operators from usurping government land. We only issue licences to them,” OMFED spokesperson Subhash Tripathy said.
