Berhampur, Sept. 13: Berhampur Development Authority has been running without an enforcement wing, which is supposed to check unauthorised building construction in the urban limits here, for the last eight months because of manpower shortage.

“Enforcement against building regulation violations is totally absent in the development authority after three officers, who were on deputation, were reverted to their respective departments,” said Raj Kishore Sahu, town and regional planning member of the planning body.

Sahu is in charge of five posts, including those of the BDA secretary, the secretary of Ganjam Regional Improvement Trust, special planning officer of Paralakhemundi, town planning officer of Gajapati and special planning officer of Rambha.

He, however, said that he was performing all these responsibilities as a stopgap arrangement.

“The enforcement wing has a lot of importance in the planned development of a city and we have initiated steps to restore it again. We have proposed to appoint officials. If necessary, we will outsource the jobs. Our legal advisor is examining the proposals. We will soon appoint three retired officials as amins,” he said.

Berhampur Development Authority chairman Kailash Rana said: “We are receiving many complaints aboutviolation of building norms and sale and purchase of plots without our approval. Right now, we can do very little to stop these. Once the enforcement wing comes up, we will be able to ascertain the veracity of such allegations and take appropriate actions if necessary,” he said.