Jeypore: Any construction within a radius of 35 to 40 metres on land over which 400, 220 or 132KV electric lines are drawn, is adjudged as illegal. However, this rule has been flouted with impunity in Jeypore town.
A 220KV line has been set up near Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) power house, Global Hospital and Ashram Nagar which connects Jayanagar road here.
However, real estate owners are allegedly selling plots in close proximity to the line at throw-away prices. Construction work has also started on some of the plots with the builders not paying any heed to the existing rule.
The encroachers have been issued notices by OPTCL directing them not to undertake any construction work under the high tension line. However, the directives seem to have fallen on deaf ears as the construction work is continuing. The administration, on the other hand, is also not taking any concrete steps to get rid of the encroachers.
Sources meanwhile said Thursday that accidents, electrocution and even death are inevitable if anyone comes close to within six to nine metres of the high tension wires. But that has not proved a deterrent to those who have illegally occupied plots here.
OPTCL DGM Chittaranjan Behera also pointed out that such illegal constructions will cause problems when any maintenance or repair work on the 220KV line is undertaken in the future. He also failed to disclose the steps taken to prevent the illegal ‘poaching’ of the plots.
PNN
