Encroachment in front of Darbhanga House in Patna. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, March 11: Patna University administration has finally taken up the cudgel to free Darbhanga House of encroachment.

In a week, the university administration would initiate an anti-encroachment drive on the Darbhanga House premises, where the postgraduate departments are be- ing run.

Sachin Dayal, the university’s assistant engineer (civil department), said: “We are planning to approach the district administration so that no problem arises in removing the encroachers from the Darbhanga House.”

The Darbhanga House, also known as Nav Lakha building, was built by Maharaja Kameshwar Singh of Darbhanga estate. It houses an ancient Kali temple. In 1952, the building was handed over to the university and since then, the postgraduate departments are being run from the premises. Because of the Temple, many shops selling puja items have come up on the campus.

Sources said people working at the Darbhanga House as Grade IV employees and their relatives own most of the shops on its campus. These employees, to earn a few extra bucks, have set up the shops illegally. The university administration has time and again initiated steps to remove the illegal structures but it has always failed in its effort.

Dayal added: “Around one-and-a-half months ago, the varsity had issued notice to the encroachers to remove their shops. But they are yet to vacate the place, leaving us with no other alternative but to take strong action against them.”

The shop owners claimed that they had not received any notice from the varsity administration regarding removal of encroachment.

A tea stall owner on the Darbhanga House premises said: “We have not received any notice from the university administration. If the administration evicts us forcibly, we will protest. We have been living on the campus for more than 20 years now.”

The university administration has come up with a rehabilitation package for the encroachers.

Dayal said: “As rehabilitation package, the university will construct four-storeyed apartments for the affected people. The tender for construction of the apartment will be opened on March 15.”