Bhubaneswar, July 26: Beehives at Rajiv Bhavan, the headquarters of the water resources department, are giving officials sleepless nights.

The department officials have already asked the secretary of Odisha Khadi and Village Industries Board to send experts to remove the beehives from the complex.

"They are creating havoc and also damaging the paintings in the building. They need to be removed urgently for the safety of employees and visitors," said deputy secretary, water resources department, Niyati Patnaik.

Rajiv Bhavan, a nine-storey building, attracts a large number of bees as it is located near gardens such as Indira Gandhi Park, Raj Bhavan garden, secretariat garden and is surrounded by lush greenery.

Ranjan Swain, a maintenance worker of the department, said: "Since the building was established in 1999, it has been attracting bees. Over the years, the number of beehives has increased."

Another maintenance worker of the building, Prasanna Nayak, said: "Not only do the bees sting the employees, they also deface the walls that are being painted. They should be removed."

Khadi board secretary Tejeswar Parida said: "We will send our employees to the place tomorrow. They will submit their expenditure detail to carry out the cleaning operation."