East Champaran district administration would soon demolish over a hundred houses and other illegally constructed buildings on either side of Motijheel for its beautification.

The buildings were identified during the ongoing survey for the beautification of the lake, which is nearing the last leg. The structures would be brought down according to the proposal of the state government after completion of the required legal formalities in the matter.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar, who will be in Motihari on Wednesday to garner support for Adhikar Rally to be held in Patna in November, had visited several spots on the bank of Motijheel and spoke to the district magistrate about the beautification plans, when he came to the district as part of his Seva Yatra. Nitish had also inquired about the area of Motijheel, source of water, if there were any plans for its beautification, encroachments and if the administration was taking any efforts to remove the encroachments.

Nitish asked officials to conduct a satellite survey of the entire area using Google and find out the present status of the sewerage system, encroachment and study the silt deposition from the lake. He ordered the secretaries of tourism, urban development, irrigation and environment departments to convert Motijheel into a revenue generating and attractive tourist spot.

“Around 100 houses and shops over Motijheel land have been identified by the lake survey team have been identified as illegal constructions. The district administration is serious about the beautification plan of Motijheel as desired by chief minister Nitish Kumar,” district magistrate Abhijit Sinha said.

He said the survey of the land around Motijheel would be completed within a week. “The district administration is serious about removing the encroachments, which are posing the main hurdle in beautification work of the lake,” he added.